Honestly, we're getting a bit tired of
all these so-called iPhone
rival handsets, but Samsung's elusive Croix doesn't do a whole lot to shake the stereotype. The mobile, which happens to boast a very similar layout to Apple's darling (and Samsung's own
F700), just won an iF Communication Design Award 2007, and while details are scant about the actual hardware, it sounds like Sammy is hoping to grab your attention with a sensationally sleek interface (seen in detail after the break). The name, which translates to "Cross" in French, supposedly symbolizes the phone's "progressive continuum, as opposed to discrete transmission from one item to another," and touts an "intuitive interface through on-screen touch input mapping which supports five different ways of interaction." Of course, only time will tell if this thing actually goes commercial (or proves real, to be honest), but it certainly has the look.
[Via
I4U News]
Update: Indeed, "Croix" may actually be the branding Samsung has assigned to its SGH-700; they certainly look close enough, right down to the F700's trademark vertical stripes across its face. Then again, Croix may represent a different model or a touch-based platform for an entire range of models. We'll keep y'all updated when we know more.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Rich @ Sep 3rd 2007 3:25PM
That's the Ultra Smart F700. They announced it in February.
Iain @ Sep 3rd 2007 4:01PM
He's right.
Take a look - http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_f700-pictures-1849.php
Iain @ Sep 3rd 2007 4:22PM
"Update: Indeed, "Croix" may actually be the branding Samsung has assigned to its SGH-700; they certainly look close enough, right down to the F700's trademark vertical stripes across its face. Then again, Croix may represent a different model or a touch-based platform for an entire range of models. We'll keep y'all updated when we know more."
Given the article you linked to seems unsure as to whether it's the phone or the interface that is 'Croix', I'm going to venture that this is a the F700, which utilises an interface called 'Croix'.
rc_bailey @ Sep 4th 2007 12:24AM
It's a great looking phone either way....
Duscrom @ Sep 4th 2007 12:52AM
Bah, stop saying that apple is the only company allowed to make that kind of phone. It's disguesting. It's nice to see Apple get into a tech industry that is already healthy enough that it won't have a Monopoly.
But this phone is looking to give both Apple and HTC a run for it's money. I can't wait to see that come to the US in a GSM model.
Destro @ Sep 4th 2007 3:32AM
No one said that Apple is the only company allowed to make "that kind of phone." The point is if you're going to make "that kind of phone," at least make some attempt to make it distinct and new, and not come off as another clone.
Tell me, how many companies were making large-screen phones with a touch interface and a single button on the face before the iPhone? How many are making them now?
Tarek @ Sep 4th 2007 10:49AM
Destro:
The iPhone is revolutionary because of the UI that it has built in rather than its form factor. It's simply not true that Apple were the first to come up with this form-factor
I'm sorry but this is hardly an iPhone clone. Given when it was announced and when a working model was available for the public to try-out, this phone was being developed well before the iPhone was unveiled. And as for making it distinct, this device has a fold-out QWERTY keyboard and has far more advanced features than the (truly excellent) iPhone. I imagine this phone was developed to take on the very similar HTC devices with fold out keyboards rather than the iPhone. In fact HTC have been making Windows Mobile Devices with this form-factor for a few years now.
The same goes for the LG Prada. This was announced before the iPhone as well and the phones from LG like the KG990 are updates to that device rather than iPhone clones.
Nokia even had their 7700 and 7710 touchscreen devices back in 2004 and more recently have released the N770 and the N800. Of course none of these device are exactly similar to the iPhone but it shows that these form-factors have been around for a while.
The iPhone is a fantastic device. The UI is in a different class and the physical build is fantastic. It just annoys me that people seem to thing that any new phone that is touchscreen based is trying to *clone* it.
Nikita @ Sep 4th 2007 10:08AM
Never won something, so I'd appreciate anything.
DREXELMAN @ Sep 6th 2007 12:01AM
anyone know when/if this phone will be on the market in the US and for what carrier it may go for?