Samsung to launch the Galaxy Player 50, the iPod Touch Killer this month

Posted on October 21, 2010 by

Samsung is getting ready to launch its iPod Touch Killer, the Samsung Galaxy Player 50, a portable media player (pmp) powered by Android 2.1 with a 8GB or 16GB internal memory, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, Android Market all over, 2 mp camera, DivX support, 3.2-inch touchscreen display, microSD card slot (up to 32GB), support DLNA and SoundAlive technology. The Galaxy Player 50 comes with Think Free Office software.

The Galaxy Player 50 will be launched at the end of October for 229 EUR (8GB) and 299 EUR (16GB).

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New Android 2.2 Upgrade Announced for Samsung Galaxy S

Posted on October 21, 2010 by

Samsung today announces the Android 2.2 (Froyo) upgrade to the Samsung Galaxy S, giving users access to new features, enhanced navigation applications and improved, faster performance.

The super-slim Galaxy S is an award winning ultra-lightweight large screen Android smartphone. The Galaxy S features an incredible 4-inch Super AMOLED screen and a super-fast 1 GHz application processor, for an intelligent, immersive and integrated mobile experience. The Samsung Galaxy S has led the Android smartphone market since its UK launch this summer.

The Android 2.2 upgrade enhances the great experience of the Galaxy S, making even more of the processor speed, and the exclusive Super AMOLED screen.

The key benefits include:
Improved browser performance: enhances browsing, navigation and the ‘pinch and zoom’ feature

Enhanced user interface adding vivid colours and features to the android menu structure

Google Maps with Navigation: A GPS navigation system with voice guidance for a turn-by-turn navigation

Adobe Flash Player 10.1: the latest Flash Player for viewing video content

Enhanced user experience including message editing and the ability to save applications to memory card

Search in-browser: Google™, Translate, Wikipedia, Dictionary

Getting the upgrade
The Android 2.2 upgrade, will be available via Kies, Samsung’s in-house software upgrade programme. Samsung has developed a brand new version of Kies which will be issued to make the upgrade experience as smooth as possible. The new version of Kies will be downloadable from www.samsungmobile.co.uk

Samsung will also be publishing video tutorials on how to upgrade, providing a step-by-step guide to the simple download process.

The Android 2.2 software is being fully tested with UK operators and the upgrade will be available in the UK from early November. We expect all operator versions of the software to be fully tested and downloadable by the end of November.

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New Lumigon T1 launched

Posted on October 21, 2010 by

Lumigon T1 is based on an open standard and Google’s distinguished Android operating system with a special Lumigon P-GUI software, to give the consumer an extreme user experience. Furthermore, the exceptionally fast Freescale i.MX515 application processor and Option HSDPA modem with Qualcomm chipset are utilized, as well as a TFT 480 x 800 high resolution 3,5″ wide touchgreen made of glass with a surrounding metal frame. Bang & Olufsen ICEpower technology guarantees superior audio quality both in the speaker, receiver and head phones.

One of the most innovative features in T1 is a universal remote control, which enables the usage of T1 as control for a great variety of electrical appliances. The built-in learning function can memorize any command from virtually any device.

T1 can also be used in the dock as a PC with HDMI / HD out to browse the Internet, read emails, watch pictures and movies, listen to the music and much more. In this respect, T1 literally replaces notebooks in home environment.

Bang & Olufsen ICEpower technology provides T1 with high performance speaker and head phone amplifiers. It does not only mean low power consumption, but enhances the sound experience to all new heights.

T1 shall reach the distribution outlets in selected markets by the very end of this year, the major volumes arriving during Q1. The sister product S1 with an in-built T9 keypad and slider is expected to be launched during Q3 2011.

Posted in Hardware | 1 Comment

New Sanyo Zio M6000 Android-powered Smartphone by Kyocera lands on Sprint

Posted on October 7, 2010 by

Sanyo Zio M6000 Android-powered Smartphone by Kyocera

Sprint and Kyocera announced the Android-powered Sanyo Zio available October 10th from Sprint, which offers the new Sprint ID personalization feature.

Sprint ID allows Zio users to quickly download ID packs that deliver a predefined experience, including applications, widgets, ringtones and wallpapers, all at once. Packs are designed to meet customers’ interests, whether they are sports fans, fitness fanatics, auto enthusiasts or more. The packs could be brand-specific; allow users to easily switch between English or Spanish; or be specifically tailored to the customers’ businesses or lines of work. The marketplace of Sprint ID experiences is growing and customers can have one or up to five on their devices, powered by the Now Network.

The intelligently sleek device with the customizable Android 2.1 operating system opens new realms of rich multimedia experiences with a 3.5-inch WVGA touch-screen, 3.2-megapixel camera and 30-frame-per-second video record and playback. The handset’s high-resolution, touch-screen display is like carrying a flatscreen TV that fits in a pocket.

Designed with productivity and entertainment in mind, Zio boasts multiple keyboard options, all with haptic feedback, an accelerometer to rotate between landscape and portrait orientations and an ambient light sensor that automatically adjusts screen brightness to optimize viewing. The easy-to-use trackball also helps users navigate between the seemingly endless features found on Zio, including address book integration with such social apps as Facebook, Twitter and MySpace; GPS functionality and digital compass plus preloaded Google Maps™; media player for streaming videos; full HTML Web browser; and a full library of more than 80,000 widgets and applications available from Android Market™. Zio also features a pre-loaded Exchange Email application that supports corporate Outlook e-mail, calendar, contacts and tasks, while also supporting ActiveSync and enhanced security features.

As beautiful as it is powerful, Zio is only 0.5 inches thick and weighs only 3.7 ounces, making it one of the thinnest, lightest Android devices on the market. The jet-black exterior is trimmed in silver with a soft-touch back that helps ensure that it won’t slip out of your hands. With 512MB of internal memory, a 2GB microSD memory card (provided in box) and support for up to 32GB microSDHC cards, Zio can handle even the most robust of applications.

Sprint ID brings together content into themed packs that can be deployed on Zio at the touch of a button. Zio users can load up to five Sprint ID packs on their phones and change themes on a whim as the mood strikes. Specific packs can even be further customized — adding or removing elements to match preferences — while the MyID function allows users to define and create their own application packs.

The Sanyo Zio M6000 will cost just $99.99 with a new two-year Sprint service agreement or eligible upgrade and after a $100 mail-in rebate (pricing excludes surcharges and taxes). Cricket Wireless is also selling the phone now.

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Samsung Showcase – Mesmerize hits Cellular South and U.S. Cellular

Posted on October 7, 2010 by

Samsung will release the Android-powered Samsung SCH-i500, a Galaxy S smartphone on both U.S. Cellular and Cellular South. The U.S. Cellular version will be called the Samsung Mesmerize. The Cellular South version will be called the Samsung Showcase. It will bring users a fully integrated entertainment, messaging and social networking experience packaged in an alluring, streamlined design surrounding a stunning 4-inch Super AMOLED display.

The Samsung SCH-i500 represents a new breed of smartphones powered by the open and innovative Android platform, with full support of Google Mobile Services including Google Search, Google Maps, Gmail, YouTube, Google Talk, Android Market and more. The Showcase features Samsung’s Super AMOLED display screen technology, a 1 GHz Samsung Hummingbird Application Processor and Samsung Social Hub, a feature that integrates the user’s social networking services, messages, personal and business email, calendars and contacts.

The Samsung Showcase will come preloaded with two Cellular South Original apps — Text CS and Discover Apps. Both of these apps help consumers get quick, easy and convenient answers to questions about their mobile phone, account and the most relevant apps for their device. A third app — Barcode Scanner — enables users to quickly scan a barcode into their Android-powered smartphone and have Google search for that particular item to find reviews, competitive prices and more. The app also can read QR — or Quick Response — data-matrix codes, which can link users to a website, a discount coupon, contact information, calendar appointment or text message.

The SCH-i500 provides a premium viewing experience on its large, brilliant 4-inch display powered by Samsung’s Super AMOLED touch screen technology. Super AMOLED technology yields thinner displays, delivering one of the most responsive full-featured smartphones in the industry. Samsung’s innovative display technology makes watching movies, viewing videos and playing games come to life like never before, even in bright light and outdoor environments.

In addition, the SCH-i500 features six-axis motion sensing using an accelerometer and geo-magnetic sensors to provide a smooth, fluid gaming experience when the user is tilting the device up or down or panning the phone to the left or right. The SCH-i500′s user interface also supports a series of advanced touch screen gesture capabilities including multi-touch pinch, long tap and zoom and vertical and horizontal swiping. This series of versatile gestures provide easier and quicker access to many applications including location-based services, Web browsing and digital photos.

Powering the SCH-i500 is a 1 GHz Samsung Hummingbird Application Processor, which produces amazing 3-D graphics along with faster upload and download times of HD-like multimedia content.

The SCH-i500 smartphone keeps users connected with Samsung’s Social Hub, which is built around Messaging and Contacts, both of which initiate the sending and receiving of information, whether it is e-mail, instant messaging, social network updates or SMS messages. Additionally, calendar information from portal calendars, such as Google Calendar™, and social networking services are displayed together in one calendar with two-way synchronization. The familiar text messaging experience is enhanced with group messaging and “reply all” functionality for up to 10 contacts, a threaded conversations format, a consolidated inbox, and enhanced multi-media display.

Not just for social networking and messaging, the SCH-i500 truly brings your home and office computer to the palm of your hand with support for push email and integrated calendar services, including Google™ and Yahoo for consumers and small businesses and ActiveSync for enterprise users. Messaging is simple and easy with the SCH-i500′s virtual QWERTY keyboard with Swype technology, which allows users to input text faster and in a more intuitive way with one continuous finger motion across the screen keyboard.

In addition, the SCH-i500 features best-in-class entertainment features, including future access to Samsung Media Hub, a library of video and literary content powered by some of the biggest names in entertainment. The SCH-i500 also features Samsung’s All Share application, which enables inter-device connectivity through DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance), allowing users to send video content wirelessly to other DLNA-enabled devices, such as televisions, monitors and computers, allowing for a rich, interactive entertainment experience.

The SCH-i500 is packed full of features that enhance users’ daily life, including a 5.0-megapixel camera/ camcorder with auto-focus and HD video recording (720p), MP3 player, 3.5-millimeter headphone jack and expandable memory for photos, videos and music, up to 32 GB using microSD. Additional key specifications of the Showcase include Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n), full HTML browser with multi-touch pinch to zoom, Bluetooth® 3.0 technology, daily briefing widget, which offers instant access to weather, news, stocks, and the calendar and a feeds and updates widget, that lets users get updates from social networking sites instantly.

Samsung Showcase (Cellular South) will be available in retail locations in time for the holidays.
Samsung Mesmerize (U.S. Cellular) will retail for $199 after an $80 mail-in rebate and will be available October 27.

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The New Samsung Transform now available at Sprint

Posted on October 7, 2010 by

Samsung Transform SPH-M920 Smartphone

Sprint and Samsung today introduced Samsung Transform (model SPH-M920), one of the first premium Android powered devices to coincide with the rollout of Sprint ID, a user-friendly new means of personalizing Android phones.

Sprint ID allows Samsung Transform users to quickly download ID packs that deliver a predefined experience, including applications, widgets, ringtones and wallpapers, all at once. Packs are designed to meet customers’ interests — for instance, whether they are a sports fan, fitness fanatic or auto enthusiast. The packs could be brand-specific; allow users to easily switch between English or Spanish; or are specifically tailored to the customers’ business or line of work. The marketplace of Sprint ID experiences is growing and customers can have one or up to five on their device, powered by the Now Network.

Samsung Transform features a brilliant 3.5-inch HVGA touch-screen display, full slide-out QWERTY keyboard, 3.2-megapixel rear-facing camera with flash and camcorder and VGA front-facing camera for video conferencing. It offers the ability to sync personal and corporate e-mail, contacts and calendars, and multiple messaging options, including threaded text. It allows access to social networking sites Facebook, Flickr, and Twitter. With access to Sprint Zone, Samsung Transform evolves into a one-stop source to access the customer’s wireless account, phone tips, news, a list of top apps, Sprint TV, NASCAR Sprint Cup Mobile and Sprint Music Plus.

Equipped with the Android 2.1 operating system (but scheduled for an upgrade to 2.2 later this year), Samsung Transform provides access to popular Google mobile services, including Google Search, Google Maps, Gmail and YouTube, and access to more than 80,000 applications available in Android Market. The device operates on the Sprint 3G network and features a powerful processor, access to GPS navigation, Stereo Bluetooth wireless technology, Wi-Fi capability and Visual Voicemail. It also features a 2GB micro SD card (preinstalled in the device) and a Music Player with MicroSD card slot to support up to 32GB. The feature-rich Samsung Transform weighs 5.4 ounces and is available in Black Pearl.

Customers can begin to purchase Samsung Transform Oct. 10 through all Sprint channels, including www.sprint.com, Telesales (1-800-SPRINT1), and national retail partners RadioShack and Best Buy. Retail pricing will be $149.99 with a two-year service agreement and after a $100 mail-in-rebate (taxes excluded) with a new line activation or eligible upgrade.

Posted in Samsung, Samsung Transform | 1 Comment

Vlingo InCar Voice Activated App for Android

Posted on October 7, 2010 by

The First and Only Completely Hands Free Solution To Send and Respond to Messages, Make Calls, and Get Directions While Driving

Vlingo Corporation today announced “Vlingo InCar,” a new beta feature for Android™ users that allows consumers to receive and send text messages without taking their hands off the wheel or their eyes off the road. Vlingo InCar offers users:

Voice-driven, hands free initiation – Vlingo enters listening mode upon Bluetooth connectivity
Voice driven, hands free initiation using a “wake up word”
Conversational user guidance instead of a touch screen
Ability to send and respond to messages, make calls and get directions using only voice commands

“Vlingo InCar was a natural extension of Vlingo’s functionality so that users can now have an alternative, hands free way to communicate when they need to respond to an urgent message,” said Dave Grannan, president and CEO at Vlingo. “Although 30 states presently have full or partial bans on texting while driving (TWD), data from Vlingo’s Texting While Driving in America 2010 Report shows that 35% of those surveyed still continue to TWD. Legislative action is an important step but clearly laws are not enough, we are going to need technology solutions.”

This latest release of Vlingo also includes a new feature called “Vlingo Answers” that enables users to speak into their device to ask a question, in any form, and have the answer read to them, out loud, immediately.

In addition to InCar, Vlingo can power most tasks on Android devices. Users can simply press the “Vlingo widget” to:
Send text and email messages
Search the web using Google or Yahoo!
Update Facebook and Twitter status
Open built-in and 3rd party applications
Speak into any application with the Vlingo Everywhere voice keyboard
SafeReader — hear incoming text & email messages while you drive
SuperDialer – one-click calling to an infinite address book, and reviews, maps and directions for any business.
Foursquare – check in, connect with friends, or shout out an update on foursquare.

Vlingo is available free of charge for Android 2.1, and above. Note Vlingo InCar beta is exclusively available on the Sprint Now Network and is optimized for the HTC Evo and other Android 2.2 devices. To see when Vlingo InCar will be available for your U.S. carrier wireless carrier, click here. U.S. users can download Vlingo on device from the Android Market for free.

Vlingo plans to roll out this functionality to other Vlingo supported platforms in a future release.

Posted in Hardware, Vlingo | Leave a comment

New LG Optimus T Smartphone

Posted on October 7, 2010 by

T-Mobile and LG announced the LG Optimus T. Equipped with the latest Android platform, LG Optimus T features a responsive touch screen sleek form-factor and deep integration of Google™ services, including Voice Actions.

LG Optimus T makes staying connected to friends and family while on the go a quick, one-touch process. Using Voice Actions for Android, customers can control their Android-powered phone by speaking commands to call, text, e-mail and even find directions on a map, among other tasks. LG Optimus T also offers customers close integration with popular Google services, such as Google Search (also by voice), Gmail, Google Talk and Google Maps.

With access to Android Market, LG Optimus T customers can download and personalize their phone with thousands of free and paid applications. In addition, the customizable home screen, expandable up to seven panes, on the Optimus T keeps life simple by bringing what matters most upfront and center, including favorite applications and widgets. The Optimus T comes equipped with a 3.2-megapixel autofocus camera with video capture, as well as pre-installed 2 GB microSD card and support for up to 32 GB of removable memory.

Offered in a Burgundy or Titanium finish, the LG Optimus T is expected to be exclusively available to T-Mobile customers this holiday season. It is aimed for first-time smartphone users ready to explore the Android world.

Posted in LG | 1 Comment

New LG Optimus S Smartphone

Posted on October 7, 2010 by

LG Optimus S Smartphone

Sprint and LG announced the LG Optimus S, one of the first Android-powered devices to offer the ultimate personalized experience with Sprint ID, a new user-friendly way of personalizing Android devices. Offering easy-to-use Google applications, LG Optimus S delivers an engaging Android experience for first-time smartphone users. LG Optimus S will also be the only Sprint ID phone to launch with Android 2.2 offering users hotspot functionality.

Sprint ID allows LG Optimus S users to quickly download ID packs that deliver a predefined experience, including applications, widgets, ringtones and wallpapers, all at once. Packs are designed to meet customers’ interests, whether they are sports fans, fitness fanatics, auto enthusiasts or more. The packs could be brand-specific; allow users to easily switch between English or Spanish; or be specifically tailored to the customers’ businesses or lines of work. The marketplace of Sprint ID experiences is growing and customers can have one or up to five on their devices, powered by the Now Network.

This affordable and highly customizable, full-featured smartphone keeps customers socially connected and organized with Android 2.2 and other key features including:

Sleek and slim design
3.2-inch capacitive touch-screen
Virtual QWERTY keyboard
Mobile Hotspot capability supporting up to five Wi-Fi enabled devices to share the 3G experience simultaneously
3.2-megapixel camera with 2x digital zoom
microSD card slot (supporting up to 32GB)
Android Market — choose from more than 80,000 apps to personalize your phone
Visual Voicemail

LG Optimus S will be available beginning on Sunday, Oct. 31 for $49.99 with a new two-year Sprint service agreement or eligible upgrade and after a $100 mail-in rebate (pricing excludes taxes).

Posted in LG | 2 Comments

Verizon unveils the new Motorola Droid Pro smartphone

Posted on October 6, 2010 by

Verizon Wireless and Motorola today unveiled DROID PRO, a new, powerful, stronger and faster solution designed to meet both business and personal needs. The first Android™-based smartphone optimized for business use, DROID PRO is also a global-ready Android smartphone from Verizon Wireless, allowing customers to enjoy wireless voice service in more than 220 countries and data coverage in more than 200 countries.

DROID PRO meets employers’ and employees’ needs by addressing the productivity tools businesses require, including corporate connectivity and security; full push corporate e-mail with corporate level security; unified calendar with additional work features; pre-loaded Quickoffice Mobile Suite, a powerful 1 GHz processor; 4 GB of memory (2 GB internal; and 2 GB removable) and a QWERTY keyboard designed for speed and convenience.

Key features and specifications:
· Support for both Exchange e-mail and Gmail for business

· Corporate directory look-up, unified calendar for Enterprise and sync with Google Calendar™

· PC-like browsing with Adobe® Flash® Player 10.1 on a full, multi-touch, 3.1-inch brilliant display built on Android 2.2

· View, edit and share documents, including Microsoft Excel® spreadsheets, PowerPoint® presentations and Word® documents

· Built-in security features, including AuthenTec IPSec multi-headed VPN integration, remote wipe of device and SD card, and complex password support. Device and SD card encryption will be available in early 2011

· 3G Mobile HotSpot capabilities – Allows customers to connect up to five other Wi-Fi®-enabled devices and laptops

· Live widgets that stream e-mail messages to the home screen; customers can filter the widgets to separate work and home e-mail

· 5-megapixel camera with auto focus and dual LED flash as well as DVD-quality video

· 3G diversity antennae provides customers with enhanced data speeds and range

· Wi-Fi-enabled DNLA connectivity

· Android Market™ – Provides customers with access to more than 80,000 applications

· My Verizon and Backup AssistantSM support – Allows customers to manage their wireless accounts or their contacts from their phones

· DROID PRO will be available at www.verizonwireless.com and in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores in the coming weeks. Pricing will be announced closer to launch.

Posted in Motorola | 1 Comment