My Sprint contract is coming to an end. Coincidentally they have released a phone that looks really great. The Samsung a900 is a nice phone with Bluetooth, EV-DO, a good screen, etc. That is exactly what I have been waiting for from Sprint. Unfortunately the phone will not work with Apple’s iSync. The reason this phone will not work is not because of Apple; it is because Sprint (and Samsung) refuse to support the standards that their customers want. Namely SyncML.
What Sprint refuses to recognize is that power-users and early adopters will be leaving their service in droves if they don’t get their act together. While we may not be the majority of their customers we are a very influential minority. When I leave my wife leaves. Other family members may be soon to follow (due in part to free mobile to mobile calling).
I have contacted Sprint about this issue in the past and was told that when they make it available I will know about it via a large press campaign. If there is not a marketing campaign announcing that availability of a good looking phone with EV-DO, Bluetooth, and SymcML before February, then I will be ending my time with Sprint and most likely moving to Verizon and the Motorola RAZR.
The Samsung a900 looks alot like the RAZR, has many of the same features as the RAZR, and even has some nice things the RAZR does not have. Unfortunately, due to the lack of SyncML, the a900 does not perform the same as the RAZR. It is that performance that I am looking for, and it is that performance that Sprint refuses to provide.
Get your shit together Sprint. The clock is ticking.
14 Comments
soooo true. I am in the same boat. I have brought many family members over to Sprint and don’t want to leave but there phones simply suck. I just want a phone to sync with my Mac OS, but I don’t need all the functionality of a Treo, RAZR would be perfect. I’ve also talked to them about this and even bought the Sony Ericson that they released briefly to show my support…until Verizon gets cheaper unlimited data plans I don’t want to leave Sprint.
im pissed i did not do my homework, i bought an a940 but then learned it will not sync with isync. this sucks sprint, you can kiss my ass.
Just got the a900 and was dismayed to find no Mac “drivers” for this phone at the Samsung site. I’ve been waiting for a Bluetooth phone from Sprint for some time now. Sadly, they have the best coverage in the central American Midwest and unlimited plans help.
Then I find that Mac 10.4.4 has Bluetooth issues and I can’t connect even via USB???
And to top it off, my puppy chewed the charging wire as soon as I got it home. I am not pleased with this entire experience.
Fuck Samsung. They even refused to release Mac OS X printer drivers for their ML-1740 laser printer in America. Had to go the German site to get the drivers.
Looks like I got all mad about the wrong things. I fogave the puppy, spliced the charger’s wires and connected the a900 to my iMac via USB.
Mac OS X 10.4.4 doesn’t need drivers to recognize the phone as an external disk: USB MMC (Multi Media Card); however, Windows does need the Samsung drivers.
I also found that Samsung typically partners with Microsoft so overt lack of Mac support is no real surprises. The good thing is that Samsung’s technologies are usually robust enough so that Mac can interface with them. The trick will be finding out how to get my media (.wav, .avi, .amc, .3gp, .3g2) transfered to the phone so that it will be:
1. Stored on the phone
2. Played by the “Media Player”
3. And then set as ringtones.
Let’s be honest. The Holy Grail is making your own screen savers, wallpapers, ringtones and video “ringers” on your computer and then customizing and USING them on your own phone.
I’ll be posting more a900 information here as I dig it up.
I got the A900 to use as a modem. When tethered with the data cable the mac recognizes it as Samsung CDMA (not neccessarily EDVO) and there is a modem connection for Sprint vision (not power vision) so the phone can be used although the connect speed is only 230400 bps. Blue tooth makes a data only connection but I can’t get it to sync. Any Ideas on getting a faster connection?
The only thing about this is Verizon has also disabled bluetooth with isync in order to force punters into using the verizon management services. It really seems as though only GSM phones will work with isync.
I AGREE. I have brought at least 15 people over to sprint. I spend $150 a month, and I will be leaving soon for Cingular. Then the rest of my family will as well. I can’t take the lack of good phones. I want a phone with bluetooth, works with Apple, lets me play music (No I don’t want to buy it again from you Sprint). Not that much to ask!!!!!!!! Listen to the customers that will bring you more.
I just want a phone that has bluetooth, that sync’s with Apple, and lets me play my own music if any (NO Sprint I don’t want too buy it again from you). I diddn’t think I was asking that much. Considering Cingular gives phones away that do that. Well I have a great plan with Sprint, I’ve brought at least 15 people over to Sprint, but I just can’t deal with the lack of good phones. I have called Sprint and told them this many times. I will be leaving very soon. As of now the only thing keeping me from Canceling my contract and paying $150 is the fact that Apple might come out with a phone and I don’t want to pick the wrong company. If I go before Apple brings out there phone I’ll go with Cingular, at least they have some phones that work with itunes and meet the rest of my limited demands. SEE YA Sprint!
fuck sprint.ive been waiting for a freaking driver for the samsung blade…… i hate mac haters………my imac g5 recognizes the phone but it wont let me transfer ne thing!!!!!!
Well if you want to transfer media to your phone via mac, this is what i did. MENU –>TOOLS—>BLUETOOTH–>OPTIONS–>SETTINGS—>EXCHANGE FTP FOLDER… choose DCIM–>100SSMED - then SET - Now connect the phone to your mac via bluetooth (make your a900 discoverable and have the mac find it….then on the top bar of the mac you’ll c a bluetooth symbol and then go to send files i think….) i did this @ home on my imac g5 - hopefull this’ll help others - and oh yeah i make my video ringers using quicktime
Update:
allright I can share Photos 1 way to my powerbook g4 from computer to phone by exchanging ftp folder… have not found a way to reverse transfer ie: download photos /movies from phone to mac..
Conection via bluetoth sam A900 to mac
I use Bluetooth as modem and get good speeds…you must open darwin after signing on and imput
ping -i 20 google.com
enter
this pings google every 20 seconds to keep the bluetooth connection active, preventing sprint from dropping conection.. sometimes calls will come through but mostly you will just get a notification of new voicemail/ text’s while using phone as modem.. the phone as modem plan is only $40/month versus the $60/ month for the sprint big bulkey wireless dealey…
Questions:
salling clicker: allows phone to be used as a remote for itunes/ photos/ iwork etc….
should be compatable with the A-900 other samsung devises are supported hopefully soon they will work with us.
I have not been able to get the a900 to accept the file yet..
copy from salling forum: reason for no workey
Unfortunately, it doesn’t look very good as far as support for the A900 goes. First of all, no Samsung phones to date support the “APIs” required. Also, Samsung offers no developer documentation for the A900 (and neither does Sprint), so it’s not possible at this time to figure out if it is supportable.
anyone found a way arround this one???
Switch
MP3s playing natively on the A900 — Mac OS X
I completed a successful transfer of MP3 files from the ‘Finder’ to the A900 “media” folder and was able to play them just fine on the phone with the flip covers controls being active as intended.
On the A900 click the “Menu” circle button and navigate to Tools > Mass Storage > Connect to PC. Don’t click “OK” yet. Connect the USB cable and then click the “Menu/OK” button. A screen should say “Connected to PC Call Disabled” and your phone should be mounted on the Desktop of your Mac in the shape of a White USB drive icon.
Double click the icon on the desktop (single click if you want to rename it) and then open the “MEDIA” directory. Put as many MP3 files in there as will fit in that tiny amount of space they provide with the phone and eject the icon from the destop when ready.
Now when you navigate on the phone to the “Media Player” choose “Mass Storage” and you should have your transfered files available to play from your phone.
WARNING–MP3 files only. Other formats will have to be converted to .mp3 before transferring to the phone if you want them to show up and be available.
hey i need help i need to know a program that will work for syncing my a900 with my compaq presario please help i love this phone lol
I have Mac OS 10.3.9. I’ve switched from a Nokia 6230i to a Samsung D600. After downloading OnSync (purchase) and setting up the bluetooth recognition, I was truly amazed at the results. I uploaded my mobile files from my old Nokia to Mail (after setting up a folder called “Mobile Contacts” under Groups). Then I dragged those contacts onto my new Samsung D600 mobile. Hope this helps someone. Maybe it will also work for other Samsung models.
The software is available on: http://www.onmadesoft.com