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You are here: Cell Phone Reviews > Reviews of Samsung Phones > Samsung A990 Review
Samsung A990 Review - The 3.2 Megapixel Cell Phone
SAMSUNG A990 - Review and tips and tricks:
Slowly the lines are blurring between digital cameras and mobile phones and the Samsung A990 is a quantum leap in this direction. The Samsung A990's camera - a high-end 3.2 Mega pixel, claimed by some as the first true 3.2 MP phone in the US beats the other recently launched 3.2 MP camera phones of Nokia (N80) but the latter scores in the ability to customize (read: transfer, edit and other modifications) the pictures to one's liking - an area where all Samsung camera phones need improvement. Of course, the phone does come with a rotating screen, auto focus, multi-shot modes, video recording, white balance, etc. The phone also comes equipped with PictBridge technology for remote printing without the aid of a PC. Browse through our best selection of Samsung A990 Accessories
The phone gets kudos on some regular features that Samsung phones have new built a reputation for - clarity of calls, signal strength, good quality graphic user interfaces and no lags while browsing through the menu options. The display screen - both the outer and inner screens are big and readable even in bright light. 
The phone is not bereft of cons like a high price, limited battery life, an awkward battery charging port, lack of microSD card as part of the original equipment, format limitations for the MP3 files that can be played on the phone, side buttons get pressed during general handling and of course the small central navigation button. Overall, a functional as well as a good-looking phone which might look attractive if a few dollars less!
How to create and send pictures and video from your Samsung A990? In A990 menu language, PIX stand for pictures and FLIX stand for videos. Hence PIX/FLIX messaging is also known as MULTIMEDIA MESSAGING (MMS).
1. From the main MENU, select MESSAGING or in standby mode, select the MESSAGE soft key on the left and choose NEW MSG
2. Now choose either PIX MSG or FLIX MSG to create a new message
3. Enter the email id or phone number of one or more recipients
4. In the TEXT field, any text inputs can be added
5. Select the navigation key to go to PIX/FLIX field
6. To add pictures using MY PIX/MY FLIX, select the soft key on the left side of the screen
7. Once in MY PIX, you can choose from the existing picture albums in the phone to attach to message.
8. Once a particular image is chosen, pressing the circular navigation button will bring up the CREATE PIX MSG screen.
9. In the PIX MSG, you can SOUND and SUBJECT too to the message
10. And if required, add the MY NAMECARD from the CONTACTS list.
11. Once all desired elements are added to the message, press OK to send the message to the intended recipients.
How to receive PIX/FLIX messages?
1. When a new PIX/FLIX message is received, there are three options that are displayed on the screen - VIEW NOW or VIEW LATER or REJECT
2. For your mobile phone to offer the REJECT option, the AUTO RECEIVE mode must be deactivated
3. If you choose VIEW NOW. The message starts DOWNLOADING
and once completed, you can view the message with pictures, videos and text if any
4. Alternatively, you can choose VIEW LATER and then you can look for the downloaded image in the MESSAGE INBOX. If the AUTO RECEIVE is set to OFF, you might have to select DOWNLOAD at the time of viewing the message
How to print pictures from your mobile phone using PictBridge?
The camera and imaging products association (CIPA) has established industry standards which have enabled a range of solutions for remote printing including printing photos directly from a digital camera to a printer without the need for a computer. This technology is known as PictBridge.
The Samsung A990 comes with a camera which uses this technology to prints images on to a printer with a help of a USB cable connecting the two devices.
1. First, connect one end of the USB cable to a printer (which supports PictBridge technology)
2. On the phone, select the GET IT NOW option form the main MENU and choose GET PIX AND FLIX. From the above menu, select MY PIX followed by PICTBRIDGE PRINT
3. Now connect the other end of the USB cable to the phone
4. Once the connect printer message comes up, press the NEXT soft key
5. Now press one or more images by checking all the desired images using the central navigation button
6. Also use the left and right navigation key in the COPIES menu to indicate the number of copies to be printed
7. Now use the up and down navigation key to select the type of the printed image as either 4 X 6 or DEFAULT depending on the printer's capabilities
8. Now go further down to choose SIZE options as STANDARD - where a standard image is printer and INDEX - where the index information is printed
9. Similarly, choose whether to retain the DATE and BORDER on the picture
10. Once all setting are confirmed, select YES to print the picture
How to format your microSD card for best performance on the Samsung A990?
It is important to ensure that the microSD memory card is formatted with the computer format FAT32 file system for best results of the songs downloaded to the phone.
Please note: The memory card will lose all current contents once formatted.
There are 2 ways of formatting your memory card, using either the computer or the handset
Format using handset:
Make sure the card is inserted into the memory card slot on the left-side of the phone
From the main MENU, select SETTINGS AND TOOLS. Highlight the MEMORY option and select CARD MEMORY. From the options available in CARD MEMORY, select FORMAT CARD
Format using your computer:
Before formatting using your computer/PC, fit the microSD card into a SD card adapter.
Now insert the SD card adapter directly into the card reader slot on your PC.
If the PC does not have a card reader slot, use a USB-enabled card reader and insert it into any of the USB slots available on the PC.
On the PC, go to MY COMPUTER and select the removable drive that represents the SD card / SD card reader.
Right click on the drive and choose the FORMAT option.
Under the FORMAT option, select FILE SYSTEM and select START button.
Once the process is finished, the formatting of your microSD card is complete.
Remove the microSD card form the SD card adapter and put it back in your phone.
The first time the microSD memory card is inserted into the phone after formatting, the MY MUSIC folder is automatically created on the card.
How to synchronize music between your Samsung mobile phone and your computer?
The 'sync music' option in the cell phone helps to transfer music files from the computer to the cell phone with the help of a USB cable.
1. First make sure the PC has the Windows MediaTM Player version 10 which is compatible with the Windows XP operating system. Else download the player from the Microsoft website.
2. Now, plug in the USB cable to the phone on one end and the PC on the other.
3. Now press the central navigation button and once you are in the GET IT NOW menu, select TUNES AND TONES.
4. In the TUNES AND TONES menu, choose SYNC MUSIC.
5. The phone will show the message CONNECTED.
6. Now open the Windows Media Player on your computer and choose the SYNC option.
7. Once you can see the all the song files on the computer in your media player, select he ones to be transferred and mention whether to be downloaded to PHONE INTERNAL MEMORY or REMOVABLE STORAGE CARD.
8. Once this is selected, select START SYNC option on the top left side of the media player.
9. When all the files are transferred to phone, a SYNCHRONIZATION COMPLETE message will be displayed on the phone.
10. Once all transfer is complete, disconnect the cable from the computer and the phone.
All music on the phone can be organized using the MANAGE MUSIC option. Here a music library can be maintained to sort music according to song title, album title, artist and genre. In addition, you have a PLAY ALL - where all the music in your phone is played as per a pre-determined list, SHUFFLE - where the music will be played in a random order and INBOX - where you are alerted for any new music on the internet.
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