It took a little longer than expected, but Samsung's first Windows 8 Phone is hitting the market almost immediately. Phone carrier Verizon announced on Wednesday that the ATIV Odyssey will be available online and in Verizon stores starting on Jan. 24.
Originally slated to appear in stores back in December, the ATIV Odyssey will cost $100, but a mail-in rebate will drop the price down to $49.99 so long as you remember to send it in. Samsung's first Windows Phone isn't a powerhouse by any means - it sports a 4-inch screen, 1.5Ghz dual-core processor, and 5-megapixel camera - but its cheap price and nice Super AMOLED display will surely cause prospective buyers to pause and take a look.
Of course, the main selling point is that it's a Windows 8-based phone. The handset features those iconic Live Tiles that made Windows 8 so distinct. Users can arrange the Start screen any way they like, choosing exactly what apps or links they want direct access to when they turn on their phone. Features like Live Apps allow users to get notifications directly to the Start screen (say, the latest news headlines or sales deals), and the app store currently houses 120,000 different applications.
Still, as a Samsung phone, the ATIV Odyssey also comes with a few company-specific features like Photo Editor and Mini Diary. Photo Editor pretty self-explanatory; it lets users crop, resize, edit photos by adding effects like pop art or removing red eye, and then easily upload pics to social networking sites like Facebook or Picasa. The diary, meanwhile, lets you keep track of the day's activities, draw pictures, and share them with others via email, Facebook, and other similar sites.
Here's a quick look at the Odyssey's key features.
- Super AMOLED Display (WVGA 800x480)
- 5-megapixel rear-facing camera with LED flash and full 1080p recording and 1080p playback
- Front-facing 1.2-megapixel camera for video chat
- Global Ready calling and email capabilities in more than 220 countries in the world
- Wi-Fi connectivity (802.11 a/b/g/n)
- 8 GB on board storage (actual formatted capacity is less)/ 1 GB RAM
- Support for up to 64 GB microSD card
- 2100 mAh battery
