With all this talk about the Galaxy S line, it would appear that Samsung isn’t interested in pushing any other high end Android phone outside of the moniker. However, Sammy and the rest of the gang over there in South Korea have launched the Wave 2, the update to last year’s Android device which received solid reviews and nice sales numbers.
The device features Samsung’s Bada operating system and comes with a five megapixel camera around the back as well as a 3.7 inch Super Clear (not AMOLED) LCD along with a front facing camera which we’re guessing is geared towards video chatting. There will be a few entertainment packages included, that is until the 31st of March: “Designed for gamers and app-lovers, the bundle includes five of the most recognisable and highest ranking apps in the paid for charts from Gameloft and EA Games, which are available from Samsung Apps,” says Samsung. The game bundle includes Monopoly, Need for Speed Shift, FIFA 10, Tetris, Assasin’s Creed: Altair’s Chronicles.
Samsung is touting their gaming hub as a great way for customers to waste time and thanks to the Social Hub, there will be multiple ways for owners to share media such as photos and videos across their entire social network world. Director of Mobile Samsung UK, Simon Stanford also said: “And they’ll also benefit from the growing popularity of our App store via the new gaming bundle we are offering.”
The Samsung Wave II is now available in the UK via 02 Wireless and Phones4u. Those who are looking for a basic to midrange phone can apply accordingly, while those who need more oomph might want to wait for the second generation Galaxy S models.
Posts Tagged ‘Samsung-Bada’
Samsung Wave 2 Available in the UK now
Wednesday, February 2nd, 2011Smart Phones: the Latest Developments
Tuesday, November 23rd, 2010
Nokia has announced that they are focused working on the power failure issues that are affecting the Nokia N8 Symbian^3 smart phone. Following a recent new update from retailers that have held off from selling the device (due to high return rates), it appears that a major issue concerning the device’s hardware has been spotted. So far, it has not been confirmed if a software-based fix would suffice or if this issue can only be repaired by actually fixing the hardware itself.
Korean phone maker Samsung has announced that it will have a pretty large lineup of Windows Phone 7 devices. In fact more than half the device they produce will be made of WP7 phones while the remaining 40% goes to Galaxy Android devices and the remainder will be Bada based handsets. For those not familiar, the Bada OS is a proprietary open source mobile platform developed by Samsung for its mobile handsets. So far, over a million Bada devices has been sold.
Another HTC phone is being rumored to be launching in the US first –with no confirmation of a possible UK release date: the HTC Knight. So far, initial details on the device show that it will be a 4G capable smart phone. Once again, here is to hoping that the device will be getting a name change then gets shipped locally to the UK.
Cupertino based Apple has announced that they will not continue with the development of the embedded SIM card. This is after many local network operators have stated that if Apple pushes through with the plan to create embedded SIM cards on their devices, they would start boycotting all of Apple’s devices –including the iPhone 4.
Originally, Gemalto was supposed to develop and manufacture the sim cards. Apple has had a very outstanding relationship with operators and unlike with other phone makers and developers, Apple cannot afford to antagonize the local networks.
News from Samsung, and More
Monday, October 4th, 2010
Samsung’s success with the Bada operating system is pretty much old news by now. And this is why it is not surprising to hear that the Wave 723 and the Wave 2 Pro handsets are both heading to the UK.
The two smart phones are definitely going to be packed with the Samsung Bada OS and will also be using the TouchWiz custom user interface. While the UI itself is not as refined as the Google Android, it is certainly easy to use and the features are very easy to access as well.
While the phones are successors of the original high end Wave smart phone, the Samsung S7230e Wave 723 and Wave 2 Pro are slightly on the lower end of the tech spectrum. The reason for this is that Samsung intends to bring smart phone technology to more users aside from the high end market.
In other Samsung related news, their Cetus has not only been leaked a lot in the past few weeks, but Samsung has officially confirmed that the WP7 is the first of many devices in a series. Many believe that this will be pretty much like the successful Galaxy series (which runs the Android operating system) and will be a great lineup of new Windows Phone 7 handsets.
With Samsung’s long history with Microsoft and their impressive hardware technology, it will not be long before we see the first super AMOLED WP7 touch screen handsets (the Cetus uses AMOLED technology).
Oddly enough, despite the large number of leaks regarding the handset, the full specs of the Cetus has yet to be revealed.
And speaking of the Samsung Galaxy Lineup, the P1000 Galaxy Tab is finally getting an official UK launch date. November 1 will see the 7 inch touch screen tablet on store shelves locally so those interested might want to start preparing for the queues as soon as possible.
New Smart Phones Coming to the UK
Thursday, July 8th, 2010
The second half of 2010 has already began and with it, the promise of new smart phones. Several impressive handsets have been rumored and reported and in a recently leaked “UK roadmap” a series of various handsets seem to be UK bound in the coming months.
Our choice pick of the group would have to be none other than the HTC Vision. Aside from being the most tangible handset in the list, the Vision also one important element to the Android smart phone: a physical slide out QWERTY keyboard. Of course, the Vision is not the only Android device to have a keyboard. Motorola, Sony Ericsson and Samsung all have Android handsets geared for heavy texters. But getting one in the HTC flavor is definite plus –as no other phone manufacturer can pull off an Android like HTC. The Vision is reported to be sporting a 1.5 or 1.2GHz CPU and an AMOLED capacitive touch screen display.
There are also a couple of other HTC devices coming up. The Ace is reported to be another Android handset, but aside from that, nothing else has been revealed about the device. The HTC Gold on the other hand is said to be the same handset as the rumored HTC Mondrian.
Next on the list is the Nokia N8 which is said to be running the Symbian^3 operating system. As much as we would want to be excited to see the Symbian Foundation’s newest OS, Nokia’s very own lack of support for the device is anything but encouraging. With all the focus on the MeeGo and the Nokia N9, one cannot help but see Anssi’s desperation to provide the N8 with some much needed coverage.
The Samsung i8700 Cestus is a bit of a mystery. So far, the Korean phone maker has not given out any details about the new handset though rumors are stating that this might be the next high end Bada smart phone.
Coming This MWC: Super AMOLED
Thursday, February 11th, 2010
In before Super Mole jokes.
Anyway, it looks like the Samsung Bada operating system is all set to go this upcoming Mobile World Congress. The event will be held in Barcelona, Spain and it will be featuring some of the best and newest in mobile phone technology. The Bada OS is new and not yet tested, and considering its competition, Samsung has a lot to prove to consumers about its new OS.
Expected on the floor of the MWC are the new Windows Mobile versions 6.5.3 Maldives (to be seen on the Sony Ericsson Aspen Greenheart smart phone) as well as a sneak peek into the upcoming WinMo 7. Many are hoping to see more of Apple iPad and the upcoming iPhone 4G, though we believe the full details on the new Apple devices will be shown much later this year when Apple hold their big reveal this April.
The iPhone OS is not the only system that the Bada will be facing, other major operating systems include the new version of the Google Android OS (a favorite for many high end smart phones), the Maemo OS (used for the new Nokia N-series devices) and the recently “turned to open source” platform, the Symbian OS.
While it looks like Bada will have stiff competition, it will finally be able to show off its features and capabilities as it has been confirmed that Samsung will not only be unveiling the OS, but the very first Bada phone as well. Specifications on the new device have not been revealed but many are expecting it to have similar specs to the Google Phone. The only thing known about the new Bada device is that it will come packed with a new super AMOLED screen.
Read more about the new Bada phone and the MWC at Mobile Choice UK.
Bada to be Unveiled at the MWC
Thursday, February 11th, 2010
Looks like there are plenty of things to look forward to at this Sunday’s upcoming Mobile World Conference that will be held in Barcelona, Spain –unlike the previous Consumer Electronics Show held last January, MWC are an event focused entirely on mobile phone technology.
Among the most anticipated presentations are Apple iPad and the upcoming iPhone 4G, Windows Mobile version 7 and the new Maldives update for version 6, and of course, Samsung’s new operating system, the Bada.
So far, very little has been revealed about what the Bada OS truly is. We know for a fact that this is an open source platform not unlike Linux based systems such as Google’s Android and the recently “opened” Symbian OS.
A “for-developers” launch of the Samsung Bada was held last December and while consumers were left in the dark about what is so good and promising about the device, there were plenty of big name development companies at the event. Now, less than a full two months later, we might just see running Samples of the Bada along with some applications that will showcase the potential and capabilities of the system.
The big reveal at the MWC for Samsung is definitely something to look forward to, though there is one other major factor that we have no clue about; the new Bada phone. So far, reports indicate that the device will come equipped with some new Super AMOLED touch screen.
With major devices such as the new iPhone, the Nexus One and other smart phones already out in the market; it would not be surprising if the new Samsung device is also powered by a Snapdragon processor just so it can keep up with today’s gadgets.
For more news, details and information about Samsung’s new Bada operating system and the upcoming MWC, head to Softpedia.
Highlights of the Bada Launch
Monday, December 14th, 2009
There is a quiet buzz at Samsung’s offices lately. After the recent launch of their proprietary operating system, the Samsung Bada; the next big news would certainly be a device that uses the OS.
Yep, missing in the launch date is an actual device that is running the OS. So far, Samsung has been focusing on giving the operating platform a lot of lateral leeway in order to attract developers to support the OS; and from the looks of it, their plan is working well. Samsung truly wants to give consumers an OS that is worth looking forward to.
The biggest part of the launch event is the formal start of Samsung’s Bada developer challenge. The company is offering 2.7 million US dollars to the winner of this event. This is a very wise move. Instead of using the 2.7 million on a signed contract with a single developer, Samsung has opted to dangle the cash as a prize in a contest that is certain to draw lots of entries. In most contests like these, submitted works become the property of the contest proponents; in this case, Samsung will have a huge library of applications and potential developers to choose from.
As underhanded and scheming as that may seem, it is actually a very wise business move, and one that even the contests benefit from. A contest would also allow many developers to easily showcase their works without having to go through a lengthy application process.
The event was more than just the start of a contest. This also allowed Samsung to display to different major companies what their operating system can do. A lengthy but informative video demo showcase some of the finer points of the Bada –at one point, they showed a demo of a Resident Evil game (developer Capcom was one of the event’s major guests).
Samsung Bada Coming on December 8
Thursday, December 3rd, 2009The second week of December is promising to be a busy one for the mobile phone community. Opening up the week is the launch of the Motorola Milestone on the 7th, while Google seems to have something up its sleeve on the 10th (the Android Marketplace and possibly, the Android 2.1).
Samsung is planning to break the Android-laden atmosphere with the scheduled launch of their Bada mobile operating system. The word Bada comes from the Korean word for ‘ocean’ (though it also exists in other languages as well).
Details on the exact capabilities of the Bada are still scarce until now, Wikipedia states that the Bada operating system is based on Linux and Enlightenment. Plenty of people are already familiar with the open source Linux operating system (both in mobile and computers). This open source technology also helped in the development of the now heavily used Google Android OS.
The Enlightenment on the other hand is rarely heard about in the mobile phone community. This UNIX-based platform provides an excellent interface (specifically, windows management) that is visually nice to look at and graphically intuitive.
The Bada has only been seen in a few rumored screen shots, but by far, it is the most elusive operating system of all (even the Android 2.1 has semi-confirmed screens being used on the HTC Hero). People are still very skeptical if this new OS will be up to the standards set by Google’s Android.
With Windows Mobile 7 prepped for a launch next year and the Google Android 2.1 possibly just days away, it appears that the Bada will be in for a tough fight –not to mention that there is also the Nokia Maemo and ALP’s ELSE Intuition operating systems to contend with.
Since the Bada was announced early November, Samsung had to content rumors about dropping other operating systems in favor of their new OS (similar to what Nokia faced when they announced the Maemo).
Samsung and the Bada Operating System
Wednesday, November 11th, 2009
I have no doubts that the Korean company Samsung has huge plans for their operating system, but I doubt if they have properly studied how to create a good product name for their new operating system, the Bada.
Okay, if you are thinking that this is supposed to be about an operating system, then there should be no problem with whatever name it gets called. Not entirely true. The Bada is more than just an operating system it is also a brand. Just as the Android name stands pretty much on its own.
This is the industry that Samsung’s Bada operating system is trying to penetrate and believe me, having a decent name is important. Which raises the second consideration, is Bada a bad name? Maybe so, but it certainly lacks any recall or ring to it. Not catchy at all. Sure, it has its roots in a Korean word, but so does kimchi and taekwondo.
Naming aside, there is a lot of resistance to a new operating system even if the thing is open source. Look at Linux mobile, nothing is more synonymous to the concept of open source software greater than Linux, in fact, the reason the term open source exists and the very recognition of GPL is the byproduct of the devs behind Linux.
Still, it is Google’s Android operating system that is proving to be the better OS as compared to Linux Mobile.; most ironic because the Android was developed on Linux. So where does this leave Samsung? Without much I should say.
If Samsung want the Bada to succeed, they should change the name ASAP. Then send out the source code as early as possible for people to see and try it out for themselves. This is also a good way for Samsung to test if their code is good enough in terms of usability.