The Google Android operating system is going big with the upcoming launch of the Samsung Galaxy Tab. According to initial speculations, the new touch screen tablet will be sporting the new Android 2.2 Froyo operating system and the device will be supporting voice call functionality effectively making it one large mobile phone –which is probably why Samsung still includes the device in the Galaxy line up.
In any case, the Korean phone maker has yet to reveal other details about this upcoming gadget.
Speaking of upcoming, Apple has an interesting little patent that was put into focus by the tech website Patently Apple. The new technology being developed (on paper at least) is a way to combine the microphone with the audio jack.
The innovation will help mobile phones by adding in a secondary audio source and could be used to help filter out noise much like a dual speaker system would be capable of doing.
This technology seems to have been in the Apple patent cupboards for quite some time and it is actually quite a shame that they did not implement the technology on the recently released iPhone 4. Hopefully, other upcoming devices for Apple would be able to integrate the feature or some derivation of it.
Last on our news updates is a quick update from Nokia. Apparently, a Bulgarian operator accidentally placed the image of the Nokia C6-01 on an ad that was meant for the C6-00. The issue was quickly rectified and the image of the C6-01 is now associated with the right name.
While initial concepts for the Nokia C6-01 where showcasing a physical slide out QWERTY keyboard, the final product loses this add-on for a sleeker form factor. Since the older C6-00 already sports a keyboard, it is nice to see a small degree of variation when it comes to choosing a handset from the entire Nokia C-series.
Archive for the ‘Samsung Phones’ Category
Apple’s New Patent, Nokia C6-01 and Samsung’s G-Tab
Tuesday, August 31st, 2010This Week in Mobile: Samsung Tablet, Apple’s Anti Jailbreak
Tuesday, August 24th, 2010
Apple is about to take some very important steps in their war against jail breakers.
Anyone familiar with the smart phone industry would realize that apps are where the money is at these days. In fact, it has been reported that the general value of downloaded apps are slowly surpassing the profit generated by voice call technology. This has led to a deeper and stronger focus of many companies on the development of apps and related technology.
Jail breaking is a serious issue for Apple as it undermines the very structure of the iTunes store. Sure, not everyone wants to pay for certain apps, but being able to protect their developers is a prerogative that the company should take. On the other hand, the public announcement of the kill switch has led to plenty of concern from all iPhone users as it renders their device vulnerable.
In other mobile news, it seems that the Samsung Galaxy Tab device is finally in the testing phase as a recently uploaded video shows a man who was spotted as carrying the device around. While the video was shot on a train and was not as clear as we had hoped, the output remains the same: the Galaxy Tab is officially confirmed.
The device will sport a massive 7 inch capacitive touch screen display (no word yet if this will be using super AMOLED technology like the Galaxy S) and according to the initial spec sheet, it should be able to handle incoming and outgoing voice calls as well –making it the first tablet phone hybrid device.
Samsung’s Galaxy series of devices all use the Android operating system so expect to see Google’s mobile platform to fully support all the new features that are to be included in the tablet device. In terms of size, the Galaxy Tab is small but many believe that the 7 inch size is perfect in terms of ergonomics.
Full Mobile Gear: Samsung Galaxy S Accessories
Monday, August 23rd, 2010
It can be said that the Samsung GT i9000 Galaxy S smart phone is one of the best Android devices around, the device is impressive in terms of both hardware and software features, it has an impressive design and also, Samsung has provided the device with a whole array of accessories that make it well equipped in various uses.
There are four main accessories for the Galaxy S, one for the car, another for the desktop, one for media and another for an extra battery. Complete, the full lineup will provide users with full and complete smart phone functionality that is difficult for other devices to match.
First up, the car cradle; just as one would expect, the Galaxy S’ car cradle is a standard dock that keeps the device in an easy to view angle. This is very useful if you rely on one the phone’s Google Maps GPS functionality when driving around.
The desktop dock is a lot like an accessibility holder for your Samsung smart phone. The device tilts up nicely on the dock allowing not only for convenient hands free calls, but also for viewing media content on the device. One of the best things about this dock is that it will get users connected to a mini-USB and it also supports a 3.5mm audio jack.
For those who travel a lot, the external battery charger will hold and charge your spare batteries. This helps save the trouble of having to swap batteries when charging spares and also, it provides users with a container solution when travelling.
Finally, the HDMI WiFi add-on will turn the Galaxy S into the ultimate media storage hub. It basically connects to any HDTV and your phone and will be able to receive data streaming through WiFi. The two part device is an impressive must-have for those who love to use the device’s HD recording capabilities.
A Week of Mobile News Highlights
Thursday, August 19th, 2010
This is a very busy week for the mobile phone industry with one new announcement after another. Here is a quick list of all the big headlines for the past couple of days.
First off, Samsung has confirmed that they are going to be releasing a white version of the GT i9000 Galaxy S Android smart phone. No word yet on exactly when this phone will be on stock, but it will be coming. Many believe that Samsung is directly competing with the iPhone 4 (which has a white version that has been terribly delayed).
O2 and the UK police have teamed up to bring down nine individuals that have conspired to steal millions from network providers. The arrest was just made recently and is a major step in helping out the local phone operators from potentially losing millions in a major scam.
Orange Mobile UK has confirmed that the iPhone 4 is now available for free on certain plans and tariffs. The big offer can still be availed off –especially now that the demand for the smart phone has died down considerably. Just be certain to avail of the free iPhone 4 Bumper through the downloadable iTunes app.
It has been confirmed that the Android operating system is now one of the largest mobile platforms available with over 55 million units distributed in this year alone. This volume is almost six times more than the amount of Android shipped out last year. Currently, Google’s Android is second place only to the Symbian OS.
Sony has taken the first step in a marketing campaign that pits the PSP against casual titles on the mobile phone industry. Many, however, believe that this is just a prologue to the upcoming PSP2 smart phone-gaming handheld which is supposedly an Android device. Google is indeed with Talks with Sony and it is possible that there is more to this rumor than meets the eye.
EISA’s Big Winners: Sony Ericsson and Samsung
Wednesday, August 18th, 2010
The European Imaging and Sound Association knows what the true score is and looking at the recent awardees for best mobile phones, then we all should know too.
There is no doubt that the Samsung GT i9000 Galaxy S smart phone deserves to be called the best smart phone in the field. It really is, in terms of style, innovation, functionality, hardware and of course, software capabilities, this handset works like a dream. Naturally, the Android operating system used in the OS is a definite reason why it is such a great smart phone; the OS has all the necessary features for the handset.
The Galaxy S also packs a 5 mega pixel camera with 720p HD video recording, a 1GHz CPU that gives it plenty of processing power for handling most apps and features and of course, the 4 inch super AMOLED capacitive touch screen display that gives it a visual quality that surpasses all other mobile phones including the retina technology used by Apple.
In terms of looks and style, there is no denying that Samsung’s Galaxy S is a definite classic. Putting aside the fact that the handset looks a lot like the Apple iPhone from certain angles, it is pretty easy to see why this phone is attracting plenty of attention with its smooth lines and sleek form.
Of course, Sony Ericsson took the big win of the day, with the XPERIA X10 Mini smart phone taking away the best mobile phone award and fully deserving it. Though it can be said that this phone is nothing but a watered down version of the original X10 that is where the success of the device is. Not everyone needs a high end smart phone with the specs of the XPERIA X10 or even the Galaxy S, but the X10 Mini is a great fit for many people –making this handset the perfect winner.
Samsung Galaxy S Update Coming this September
Monday, August 9th, 2010
It has finally been confirmed, Samsung is getting an update to the Android 2.2. Froyo this coming September and the launch will be for all networks. The announcement just came in recently and as it was expected a while back, the launch of the update is indeed by September. Getting to know that Galaxy S users from all networks will be able to get the update at the same time is certainly a big bonus.
There is no doubt that the 2.2 Froyo update is a major milestone for the Android OS. Sure, it is still a solid update away from being a 3.0 (which is assigned to the upcoming Gingerbread), but Froyo still adds in sufficient upgrades that make it worth looking out for.
The biggest improvement would have to be the speed boost. Now this is not really a new function, but a general upgrade for the user interface. Everything just runs faster and smoother –and the original UI was already pretty good to begin with. This is thanks to the new kernel memory management that has been included in the OS update. Better Java script handling has also been added in; turning the handset’s built in browser into a pretty fast and stable feature. Sites now load faster (connection speeds aside) for viewing.
In the meanwhile, other Android smart phones will have to wait for their turn at the Froyo update. It was originally expected that August would see an increase in the number of available updates but as the first week of the month is passing, it seems that the arrival of the firmware updates are a lot slower than it was originally thought. Other Android smart phones, such as the HTC Desire and Wildfire, as well as several other major handsets, are still waiting for the official 2.2 Froyo patch.
Unstable Froyo Update for Galaxy S Leaked
Friday, July 30th, 2010
There is plenty of fuss and excitement over Android 2.2 Froyo, mostly because Google is just taking so long to come out with updates for all the non-Nexus One smart phones. Just recently, an update for Android Froyo for the Samsung Galaxy S smart phone was leaked.
From the looks of it, the firmware update is authentic –it is the real deal from Samsung and Google. But this is a leaked copy, not one that has been released for consumer use. As such, this current update is still unstable and could cause undocumented changes to a mobile phone. Some believe that this is just a prototype update that Samsung’s developers are using to test the OS for the handset.
Samsung i9000 Galaxy S owners would be able to download and use the update. However, this version is not officially sanctioned and as a warning, users should not use this update unless they are certain that they are willing to take the risk. Also, this version of the Android Froyo is still incomplete. It apparently lacks Flash player support. Several who have already used the OS have reported that aside from a few missing features, the system seems stable enough.
Even if this is a pre-release version of the Android Froyo some of the upgrade functions already work –most notably, the speed boost in the Android smart phone’s performance. According to the initial announcements regarding Froyo, it will update the Kernel Memory Management settings for the OS and will make interface navigation about 2 to 3 times faster. Those who already tested this update have confirmed the speed boost, though it will naturally slow down once several apps are running at once.
Anyway, we still recommend that Samsung Galaxy S users take the time to wait for the release of the official version. With this test type already leaked, then the official one might not be too far behind.
S-LCD Technology: Taking Over AMOLED
Wednesday, July 28th, 2010
Smart phones need excellent display technology, this is what pushed LCD and LED displays to farther and newer limits. Manufacturers have been pushing the resolutions to be finer, the colors to be richer and the lights to be brighter with each new generation of display technology.
Occasionally, there are some breakthroughs that truly make a lasting impression. Take Samsung’s AMOLED technology for example; this display has become a new standard for high end smart phones. It was only later surpassed by the super AMOLED screen –also by Samsung, which was able to rival even the Apple Retina display.
But as with most technology, these products have their limitations and for AMOLED technology, manufacturing the displays in massive quantities fast is simply not cutting it when it comes to meeting market demand. And so two of the largest names in display technology have come together to bring us one amazing new technology: S-LCD.
The new display technology is a joint effort between Sony and Samsung. The two companies are considered to be the top brands in HDTVs and it is not surprising that they are able to develop a new screen technology for mobile handsets.
The S-LCD is reported to have larger viewing angles, better contrast, and also even less power consumption than before. In terms of overall performance the S-LCD is able to deliver graphic qualities that equal or even surpass that of the AMOLED screen (in some ways, S-LCD improves on AMOLED the way AMOLED improved on regular LCD/LED displays).
It has been reported that two smart phones will be the first to try out the new S-LCD technology. HTC’s Desire and the Google Nexus One (both Android smart phones) will be using the new S-LCD screens. No word yet on when the technology will be released, but many expect it come out by the end of August.
Samsung and Motorola: Also Unhappy with Apple
Wednesday, July 21st, 2010
In a single evening, Apple not only managed to belittle an issue that affected over a million iPhone 4 users (all of them actually), but the Cupertino based company also managed to insult various mobile phone manufacturers.
Nokia and RIM have already made their voices heard as they reacted to Apple’s lecture about mobile phone antennas. RIM gave a particularly strong rebuke of the issue, stating that their devices to not suffer from the issues as the iPhone 4 and not a single BlackBerry handset needs to have a casing to be used properly.
Anyway, the BlackBerry Bold was not the only handset that was mentioned by Apple, they also stated that HTC devices and the Samsung Omnia 2 were prone to losing signal strength.
This was one remark that the Korean phone maker did not take lightly. While the company has yet to make a major announcement, a spokesperson for Samsung stated several key points, “The antenna is located at the bottom of the Omnia 2 phone, while iPhone’s antenna is on the lower left side of the device. Our design keeps the distance between a hand and an antenna”.
Samsung also added that they test their products thoroughly to ensure that quality is top notch –and at the very least, these phones do not suffer from the same instability that the iPhone 4 is suffering from at the moment.
Motorola, while not directly being attacked by Apple, has already made a sentiment regarding the issue. They told reporters that they believe that consumers do not appreciate what Apple did: telling people how to hold a handset is never a good idea, after all, these buyers understand how to use mobile phones. They also stated that to avoid mistakes like the one Apple made, Motorola devices have an internal antenna instead of having it located outside where it is jammed easily just by touch.
Samsung’s Wave: 1 Million Sold and Schooling Apple on Displays
Thursday, July 15th, 2010
Samsung’s S8500 Wave smart phone is certainly one handset that mobile phone users should not miss. Aside from the already interesting Bada operating system, there is plenty of great hardware features on the devices. According to Samsung, they sold over a million units just recently. For anyone who passed up on getting Samsung’s i9000 Galaxy S Android smart phone, this device is a nice cheap alternative that features an all new operating system, but with pretty much the same hardware.
Pretty much, meaning that there are some slight differences –like with the size of the screen. The Galaxy S’ touch screen is 4 inches, while the one on the Wave is only 3.5 inches. Aside from that, the graphic quality between the two handsets is quite identical as both uses the super AMOLED touch screen technology that Samsung has developed.
And speaking of similar, comparable qualities, the Samsung Wave’s touch screen matches up to another device as well: the Apple iPhone 4. Right now, there is plenty of fuss about the graphic superiority of the new iPhone 4 touch screen as it apparently uses some new HD technology.
But as impressive as Apple’s technology may be, the screen they use is far too inefficient to make and worse, it is very expensive. The super AMOLED technology however, is cheaper, but also able to provide the same graphic quality.
Of course, in terms of numbers, the iPhone’s screen has a better spec sheet, but when viewed side by side, the actual differences are pretty much negligible except for users with a very discerning eye. With a lower production cost and nearly equal technology, Samsung has been able to show that the super AMOLED touch screen technology is truly among the best that this generation of handsets can give.
The device also comes with a 1GHz ARM Cortex A8 CPU, plenty of internal memory and a 5 mega pixel camera.