Samsung i8520 'Halo' Android 2.1 phone with 3.7-inch Super AMOLED and pico projector (updated)
By Thomas Ricker 
posted February 14th 2010 3:19PM
posted February 14th 2010 3:19PM
Note: Even though the i8520 clearly seems to run the same UI as the Bada-powered Wave, we've been assured by multiple people in Samsung -- including a VP in the Mobile division -- that it is, in fact, running Android 2.1. That ties in nicely with the fact that Bada's graphical representation comes through as a new cut of TouchWiz, so it makes sense these guys would want to port the same look and feel to other platforms. Also of note is the fact that we couldn't confirm from the company that it's got a projector on board, but there's plenty of evidence to suggest it does: the so-called Specialized Projector UI, the fact that the 14.9mm girth is likely thick enough to swallow the necessary optics, and -- of course -- the big DLP logo on back. We'll bring out the final details just as soon as we know 'em.
Update: Images confirm it, Halo is a projector phone!
What on earth have they done to the Android UI? :(
@ChazClout They customized it to how they liked it because with android they can.
@ChazClout
"We made it ugly. That's what we do."
- Samsung CEO
@ChazClout Trying to get ppl more comfortable with the ba-da experience I'd guess.
@ChazClout
Must....wait....for....HTC Supersonic!!!
@ChazClout Made it look like an iPhone UI
@ChazClout
the "i8520" is based on bada, not android. just take a look in samsung's press release.
@ChazClout
That can't be it. That has 10 home screens
I don't think their Android phone will have 10 home screens. Or any other Android phone for that matter
@pachi72
yeah, bada is a completely new OS, and not jost a UI like TouchWiz! that's a difference.
@ChazClout
I have to admit, I have not laughed as much in a while at a comment. Engadget said, this is the "i8520 Phone". I think the designers removed the numbers "8520" and based their design on what was left.
@ChazClout
It is never a good idea to remind your customers of the competition. It reminds me of the Chinese phones knocking off every one. Google is moving in a new direction with Android. But Samsung is giving us a double take on Android. Samsung, because you can does not mean that you should!
@ChazClout they made it look like iPhone UI because that's the best ui ever. *downranks himself*
@MoonWalkerCTE
I know that but with a ui change I'd hope the'd improve the ui, not turn it into a garish iPhone clone.
HTC sense ui is a thing of beauty and Android 2.1 is great but this? It makes me sad.....
@Mtmrob That is a lot uglier than the iPhone UI
@TareG That is funny as shit!! The sight of a Samsung phone makes me violent!!
@ChazClout The phone will also support an eight megapixel camera, with flash; DivX/Xvid playback; Bluetooth 2.1; 802.11b/g/n WiFi; GPS; and 16GB storage. A Specialised Projector UI is also to be found on the device which indicates when using the projector the user interface changes to be more “projector friendly”: http://bit.ly/samsung-i8520-features-caveats
Samsung did something right at least...
@Phyzix But WHY no microSDXC love? or Bluetooth 4.0. I don't want to toy with obsolete technology in a $500+ phone. I mean this isn't an iphone we are talking about here....
@Eternity
Seriously? microSDXC or BT 4.0? it has an onboard pico man.... a freak'n pico that doesn't bulge out...
GadgetGeeks declare this ones a winner.....
@GadgetGeeks
Make no mistake, this device is full of win.. but I just feel like if they were gonna go all out on the specs, the aforementioned technologies should have made it in there.
This is way better than Bada, I'm really not sure why they bothered. However there is no reason to repeatedly ruin WinMo, Symbian, and Android with that dreadful UI.
@ScienceProUSAcom Windows Mobile already has a bad UI, so it isn't like they are ruining anything.
@ScienceProUSAcom. Dude I know what's the point of Vada when you can get this best in your pocket
:0
@jptech However, Android doesn't really need a lot of theming in most cases, and I don't know if I agree with Samsung's decision. Otherwsie though, I love OLEDs!
@jptech Hey i can't stand winmo But I think the ui ain't half bad.
But damn, if this comes to verizon or tmobile or there's an unlocked version with tmobile 3g bands this is my next phone.
"a chance for a US version at some point later." Well, we know what that means, another Duke Nukem Forever syndrome.
Other than that, very nice spec, especially wifi n. Why can't manufactures simply put a quad-band UMTS on their phones?
@pika2000 Why can't the us join the rest of the world and use the same bandwidth 3G was out before the states even thought of it in Europe they could have easily used the same bandwidths, but then if that had happened everybody would stop buying the crap phones that we where selling in the states
@TheOne The 850 UMTS band is also used in Australia, NZ, S. America, etc, not just the US. So that is not an excuse.
Is that a picture of it or is it just a random picture of another device, since it hasn't been announced yet?
Please don't customize it with TouchWiz Samsung, and bring it to AT&T.
@TheGM
no, it's the real picture of it. think, the design is great.
@(Unverified) The UI is terrible if it looks like that.
@TheGM
well, i like it.
yeah, i gave you the tip. love that news.
i think, it's ways better than Wave and - what he didn't mention - ist the awesome battery: 1800 mAh, which is just huge!
"DivX and Xvid playback support"
DVDRIP and BDRIP FTW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If only there were a way to keep those features after rooting it and installing Nexus One vanilla Android 2.1...
@TareG
Or, or... a way to hack the DIVX and Xvid support from it onto the Nexus One.
@TareG
there will be ^^)
The UI looks like a jailbroken iPhone's UI.
@LCDBox Lol, you hit the nail on the head.
@LCDBox Oh boy, have you ever seen a jailbroken iphone ui with some state-of-the-art themes installed? But this...this touch wiz...is sh@$, Samsung
Am I The Only one who has Spotted the Massive DLP Logo on the Rear?
Doesnt that mean it probably could have a Projector in it seeing as though is has a 'speacialised projector UI'?
http://www.dlp.com/
@Law
yeah, of yourse, it has a projector.
there is another picture on the internet which agrees with that.
don't know, why engadget didn't mention that.
@Law
watch that: http://i1.phonearena.com/showimage.php?m=Articles.Images&f=name&id=28262
@(Unverified) Safe!
@(Unverified)
Hmm, that site says it's BADA based not Android. Engadget got it wrong?
@Almo No they got it wrong. You can see Android icons, on the screens from their website.
@Almo
yeah, i think so. cause in the press release, samsung also says, that there's bada - so it will be the second device with bada.
http://samsungmwc2010.com/pressrelease_ProductSpecs_02.html
at the bottom!
interesting: what is "samsung kies" and "hybrid widgets"?
@(Unverified)
Yea, it wouldn't make sense for them to be pushing a brand new OS of their own... then go ahead and trump it with a much better device running Android + projector etc.... It seems like it is Bada powered indeed.
Samsung Kies is their app store.[samsungapps.com]
Hybrid Widgets is probably regular widgets tied with apps.
@Almo
thanks a lot - i definitely agree with you. it will be bada. let's wait till tomorrow, and engadget has to say, that it was wrong.
@Unverified User um... Engadget did mention it.
Samsung is hitting it hard. Shame the UI is crap and that it is a Samsung though.
Hopefully this will be pushing the competition a bit harder.
I mean, front facing camera, 8 MP AF camera with flash, AMOLED, DLNA, DivX/XviD...
Btw, is that a DLP projector built in there? HOLY JEBUS!