Samsung Alias 2 - Should This New Two Way Flip Phone Win a Place in Your Pocket?

Recently, my three year old Verizon cell phone kicked the bucket, so I went out and upgraded to the New Samsung Alias 2. The Samsung Alias 2 is an extremely versatile easy to use phone. It is capable of recording both videos and pictures in a variety of settings; it also can connect to the internet and store music. However like any new piece of technology the Samsung Alias 2 has several drawbacks.

Alias 2: She's Got the Look!

I find the Alias 2 to be aesthetically pleasing, however, some of my friends have commented that this cell phone is rather large in comparison to other new phones and it is very boxy in shape. I enjoy the larger shape because it is very comfortable to hold to your ear, and when using the full keyboard it is extremely comfortable. Despite the larger size width and length wise, this cell phone is still very uniformly slim.

The signature of the Samsung Alias line is the interesting feature of either flipping out like a regular flip phone, or opening like a full keyboard phone. The keys have e-ink readouts that can display the numbers vertically or letters horizontally. The only downfall to this is the backlight has to be on in order for the keys to be readable, which limits the amount you can conserve your battery life.

Samsung Alias 2: Battery Life

So we all know it's not so much the size of the phone, but how long the cell phone battery will last. There have been numerous complaints about the battery life of the phone. Unfortunately as far as phones go you have to take the good with the bad, I consider the short battery life a compromise. The more you use your Samsung Alias 2 and the different features the quicker your battery will drain. Calls are fairly conservative of the battery life. After a few moments the backlight on the Alias 2 goes off completely, which saves power. If you are constantly opening and closing your phone to text all day long, the battery drains fairly quickly because the keys are constantly surging to full luminosity. I text a few times a day and make a few calls, and play a few games. My phone calls are longer but the length doesn't affect the battery as much as the quantity. I charge my Samsung Alias 2 every other day. If you are honing in on the world texting record for the month, playing games and listening to tunes you might as well leave your phone plugged in.

Music and your Alias 2

So far this has been the biggest let down that I have experienced with the phone. First of all, I wanted to get a phone that would be easy to operate as an MP3 player as well, I should have gotten a Juke. The Alias 2 is easy to operate with music functions on the front. However, the headphone jack is a 2.5 and I have tried three different converters to try to get it to the 3.5 and they do not fit the phone. I even took it back to a Verizon Wireless store and the sales rep couldn't figure it out, and did not have a converter they could sell me. The problem is all the 2.5 connecters are loose in the phone, it will hold a connection loosely so the music is constantly loosing the connection.

The music does play straight through the Samsung Alias 2. However, unless the phone is open which is like the touch of death to the battery, the sound quality is horrible because the speakers are on the inside. If I have to shell out another 50-70 bucks for a blue tooth solution, I might as well just buy an MP3 player.

Aside from the physical problem I had with the music function, I went to play a song the other day and I received a message that the data was unavailable and my memory card was empty. The card had not been removed since I put the music on it. The phone just dumped 200+ songs. I haven't bothered to reload the music off my computer and will just be purchasing an mp3 player instead. Do not expect the Samsung Alias 2 to take on the Alias of an MP3 player because it simply isn't convincing in that role.

Alias 2: Video and Camera

The video and camera capabilities are great. The camera has four different resolution settings, zoom is available on the lower two settings. The video has an extensive zoom. I used a picture taken with my phone for my "Training Your Jack Russell Terrier" article, and I think it looks great. I've only take a few videos but they are extremely clear as well.

Playing Games

The gaming abilities are close to perfect. The versatility of the Alias 2 allows you to play games meant for either a vertical or a horizontal screen. Many cell phone games that are out now require a specific phone orientation, but you have to buy the game to find out. I bought Tetris, which requires the vertical format and will not play on a horizontal phone. I also bought Oregon Trail and that would play on either, but the words were severely squished in the vertical format. I know if I had only had a phone that opened one way or the other, I would have been severely disappointed if I had spent the money to purchase a game that didn't work on my phone. The only downside I have experienced is that the directional keys are smaller and are not comfortable for periods of extended play. For that boring biology lecture, or while you are waiting in line at the DMV the Alias 2 can hold your attention, and still have the juice to call your boy toy when class lets out.

Alias 2: 2 buy or not 2 buy that is the question

Overall I enjoy the Samsung Alias 2. The versatility is what sells it for me, I was disappointed with the music features but for the camera, games, and texting this phone is great. The audio is clear, and I find the battery life acceptable, relevant to the usage. Also, if you buy the Alias 2 the two way flip will always impress your friends. Look what my phone can do!