Samsung UpStage: The User Interface

An area where the Samsung UpStage could definitely use some work is the user interface. The basic stuff is fine and the menus are well organized with a colorful display; at least on the multimedia side. And, this is where the issue lies. The main menu(s) and applications are found on one side of the Samsung UpStage while the necessary keypad to input text and numbers on those applications is found on the opposite side. This results in the user having to flip the phone over and over to effectively use an application. The multimedia side of the Samsung UpStage actually has a method to input text and numbers, however it takes a horrendous amount of time and tends to be quite complicated which leaves the user with the flipping option.

This brings us to the display screen on the phone side of the Samsung UpStage. The display screen in question is, to be frank, too small. The petite size of the screen limits the possible applications and functions available on the phone side. You’re able to browse through contacts and send text messages, but, that’s about it. You can’t even browse through your past text messages; only send and read new messages.

Another annoying fact about the Samsung UpStage is that the music player is completely shut off when making or taking a phone call. You can’t simply pause where you are on a music track to answer an inbound call; it could get very annoying having to stop and start the music player.

The core problem with the UpStage is that the displays are on the wrong side. One doesn’t need a huge display to see the name of the track that is currently playing. A hundredMP3 players on the market and dozens of clamshell mobile phones have shown that. The large display is needed where the keypad is found, though. The UpStage has numeric shortcuts for all of the menus on the main display, but of what use are they without number keys that can be pressed? None at all. If Samsung wants to build another device like the UpStage, the main display will have to be on the keypad side. Were the displays flipped, it would be safe to assume that the UpStage would be able to function fully as a MP3 player with either side activated, as well, just as clamshell phones can play music when opened or closed. But as it stands, the UpStage is a a very tedious phone and a passable MP3 player.