Samsung's Soul slider is coming through

Samsung just announced their new flagship "Soul" cellphone in the spirit of its Ultra Editions. Get it? Spirit Of ULtra, soul? Yeah. Anyway, as Sammy's go-to phone for 2008, we're looking at a quad-band GSM phone with 7.2Mbps HSDPA; 2.2-inch QVGA display; 5 megapixel, image stabilized camera with Power LED flash and face detection; FM radio; microSD; Bluetooth, and more in a 12.9-mm thin slider. Sweetening the deal is a Magical Touch interface which adapts to your usage (music, camera, etc) a la LG's Venus. They've even added a jumbled-up Google icon for search and gMail access. Look for it to hit European retail in April. On display next week at Barcelona's Mobile World Congress where you can bet your last money, it's gonna be stone gas, honey.

Gallery: Samsung's Soul slider is coming through

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[Darkest Daze @ Feb 8th 2008 5:09AM]

You had me at image stabilized camera cause my i760 takes the blurriest freaking photo's unless I put it on a counter or desk.

Now just pack those features into a smartphone with CDMA and I'll be happy. (128mb of ram wouldn't hurt either)

[Jeff @ Feb 8th 2008 10:03AM]

I'm another who'd like to see a CDMA/EVDO version. ...and i don't care how CB17 reacts.

anyway, does it seem like Samsung is just playing catch-up at this point? (or always?)

[CB17 @ Feb 8th 2008 5:36AM]

^^^^ I'm getting tired of hearing people on CDMA carriers whining about wanting/not getting a phone. When are they gonna get it???

Moving on.
This better not be some kind of twisted joke cause if it is it's not funny. As long as you tell me this thing aint as thick as that black girl from deuce bigalow I'll be all over it.
Woah...is it too late to rephrase that last part?

[CB17 @ Feb 8th 2008 5:46AM]

Stupid me didn't read the article completely: 12.9 mm, that's nice. Just add in some US bands and I might have me a new modem, I wonder how well that Gmail access works.

[Darkest Daze @ Feb 8th 2008 5:52AM]

Don't get me wrong, I love my phone, I just wish it had a feature or 2 it doesn't. (Almost every phone I've seen/used have lacked a couple features that would make it perfect)

[daniel @ Feb 8th 2008 6:33AM]

wonder what the thing on the bottom of the "Magical Touch" interface refers to...

[d.butters @ Feb 8th 2008 7:26AM]

That's the Google button. It says "Google," just all mixed up.

[Paulrus @ Feb 8th 2008 7:18AM]

Wow, I can't wait to get this Sammy! It matches my Panny Lappy I got last year on vacay! Wow, I just saved .02 seconds by shortening those words and sounding like a 10 year old girl. Come on Engadget - if you're going to be journalists instead of hacks like Gizmodo, actually SPELL the words out.

[CB17 @ Feb 8th 2008 7:21AM]

Hey is Paulrus your REAL name? No? Nickname/shortened name? Yeah? Then SHUT UP!

[Dahk @ Feb 8th 2008 9:40AM]

These blogs are meant to be more casual anyway. So a conversational tone is definitely welcomed for a less formal reading.

Where's the fun if everything's strictly droney professional sounding voices?

[Reader @ Feb 9th 2008 5:30PM]

Spell everything out??? Here's a portion of what you want:

"Global System for Mobile communications phone with 7.2megabit per second High-Speed Downlink Packet Access; 2.2-inch Quarter Video Graphics Array display; 5 megapixel, image stabilized camera with Power light-emitting diode flash and face detection; frequency modulation radio"

Alright I know that's not what you mean, but just a counterpoint :D

[randomcomment @ Feb 8th 2008 7:33AM]

It reminds me of the Nokia 6500 slide

[randomcomment @ Feb 8th 2008 7:33AM]

but only just a little :D

[tgeorg @ Feb 8th 2008 7:45AM]

As long as it carries that ridiculous OS, it's Nokia N81 for me. Despite the bulk.

[Tony C @ Feb 8th 2008 8:59AM]

Very shiny! Very sweet! But Europe? When will it get some US lovin'? That fakey desktop background that matches the brushed metal finish of the body is a little cheezy, but the damn thing looks really good. Kinda wish they integrated the tiny touch panel a little better or maybe bigger, ala LG Venus.

[David @ Feb 8th 2008 1:21PM]

It'd be nice if T-mobile in the USA got something interesting and attractive for a change, instead of same basic Samsung clamshell over and over, ad infinitum.

[Chalkdust @ Feb 8th 2008 11:34AM]

Dumb question — if this phone isn't released in the U.S., I would still be able to buy a European release and use it in the U.S. since it's a quadband, correct? Would there be any limitations on the functionality?

[palehorse @ Feb 8th 2008 12:02PM]

I think your only limits would be with HSDPA compatibility... which is a pretty big deal.

Otherwise, yes, quadband GSM phones will work perfectly fine in the U.S. bands. (AT&T, Tmobile)

We'll have to wait and see about the broadband connectivity.

Then, of course, there's the fact you'll have to pay full price for an unlocked model... which, based on those specs, will be outrageous... DOH!

[Jordan @ Feb 8th 2008 12:30PM]

This phone is the sex.

[Horsey @ Feb 8th 2008 12:54PM]

'm going to have to dissagree with the Soul to be the Ultra Edition line of phones... for many reasons. One, it's a bit bigger than the Ultra phones, Two, it doesn't have the Ultra name, Three, it doesn't look all that great, Four, it doesn't have a variety of colours, and Five, it doesn't continue of focus of slimness, thinness, and style. This phone seems to be more of a successor of the E950. It has basically the same touchpad (changes to current app's interface needed), similar colours are being used, it's thinner than the E950, similardialpad, similar keys/buttons, and only improves on what the E950 had, with more features.

[Allen @ Feb 8th 2008 1:21PM]

Holy hell, does this work on simCard? I am going to import one for the US AT&T network as soon as possible.

5 Megapixel? My $180 digital camera (bought several years ago) is only 4.2, and 3G support?

For only the second time in my life, a tear has come to my eye whilst I am on the brink of orgasm. I. Want. This. Phone.

[tgeorg @ Feb 9th 2008 11:27AM]

You may be overreacting just a little bit.

[thattalldude @ Feb 8th 2008 3:39PM]

Now that is one sexy phone.

[aka.angus @ Feb 8th 2008 11:12PM]

Looks exactly like the LG shine but might not be a piece of shit!

[Stephen @ Feb 8th 2008 11:34PM]

it doesn't matter how many megapixels are in it if the lens is a piece of crap or if the sensor is tiny. that's why even a old digital camera with 1-2 MP is still better than a camera phone.

[hans @ Apr 18th 2008 5:13AM]

any guesses on what OS and UI this will run?

[szaszati @ May 6th 2008 6:11AM]

Hey, if you're interested in a full, detailed review, check out http://mobilearsenal.com/review/samsung_u900_a_soul_in_search_of_answers/soul.html