Engadget http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[IDC: Android has a heady 59 percent of world smartphone share, iPhone still on the way up]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/24/idc-q1-2012-world-smartphone-share/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/24/idc-q1-2012-world-smartphone-share/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/24/idc-q1-2012-world-smartphone-share/#comments Image

We've been jonesing for a more international look at smartphone market share for the start of 2012, and IDC is now more than willing to oblige. In case you'd thought Android's relentless march upwards was just an American fling, Google's OS has jumped from 36.1 percent of the world's share a year ago to exactly 59 percent in the first quarter of this year. That's nearly two thirds of all smartphones, folks. As we've seen in the past, Android is siphoning off legacy users looking for something fresher: Symbian and the BlackBerry have both lost more than half of their share in one year's time, while Linux (led mostly by Bada) and Windows Mobile / Phone together lost small pieces of the pie despite raw shipment numbers going up. As for Apple? Even with all the heat in the kitchen, the iPhone's share grew to 23 percent, leading to a staggering 82 percent of smartphone buyers siding with either the Cupertino or Mountain View camps.

Continue reading IDC: Android has a heady 59 percent of world smartphone share, iPhone still on the way up

IDC: Android has a heady 59 percent of world smartphone share, iPhone still on the way up originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 24 May 2012 10:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>analysisanalystandroidapple iosapple iphoneAppleIosAppleIphonebadablackberrycellphonecellphonesgooglegoogle androidGoogleAndroididciosiphonelinuxmarket shareMarketSharemicrosoftmicrosoft windows mobilemicrosoft windows phoneMicrosoftWindowsMobileMicrosoftWindowsPhonemobilepostcrossnokiaNokia SymbianNokiaSymbianresearchresearch in motionResearchInMotionrimsamsung badaSamsungBadasmartphonesmartphonessymbianwindows mobilewindows phoneWindowsMobileWindowsPhoneThu, 24 May 2012 10:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Tizen OS will run Android apps -- with a little help from third-party software (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/15/tizen-os-android-apps/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/15/tizen-os-android-apps/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/15/tizen-os-android-apps/#comments Tizen OS will run Android apps -- with a little help from third-party software (video)

As Tizen's open-source OS continues to make its first steps into the world, there's some good news for anyone concerned with a weak app line-up. It looks like both Android versions and Samsung's own Bada SDK will be supported through an application compatibility layer (ACL) which works along similar lines to the Android app player on BlackBerry's Playbook. Open Mobile, which is responsible for the ACL, claim it'll have 100 percent compatibility with Google's back catalogue and be just as responsive -- some pretty heady statements. The company wants its program be included on the OEM side of the equation -- this isn't aimed at humble end-user tinkerers. For now, you can check how its ACL fares in a quick video walkthrough after the break. (It's worth noting that the demo tablet isn't running on the Tizen UI -- it looks like we'll have to loiter around for some more hardware.)

Continue reading Tizen OS will run Android apps -- with a little help from third-party software (video)

Tizen OS will run Android apps -- with a little help from third-party software (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 15 May 2012 11:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ACLandroidandroid app playerAndroidAppPlayerapp playerapplication compatibility layerApplicationCompatibilityLayerAppPlayerappsbadablackberry playbookBlackberryPlaybookGooglesamsungtizentizen osTizenOsvideoTue, 15 May 2012 11:39:00 EST<![CDATA[Samsung ChatON now available as web-based messaging client]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/28/samsung-chaton-desktop/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/28/samsung-chaton-desktop/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/28/samsung-chaton-desktop/#comments
ChatON is Samsung's mobile messaging platform available for Bada, Android, BlackBerry and, yes, iOS phones. Now it's pulled the sheets from the web-based version of the service that allows you to message your frenemies from the comfort of your desktop. As well as short messages, you'll get group chat, multimedia sending, profile pages and buddy charts to let you know who your BFFs are. All of your communiqués and shared multimedia are stored in the "Trunk," a repository for those office-party pictures you wish you'd never sent. You'll also be able to link your desktop and phone accounts so that you're accessible at whatever device you're sat at. Head on down to our source link to go straight to sign up.

Samsung ChatON now available as web-based messaging client originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 28 Feb 2012 07:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AndroidBadaBBMBBOSBlackBerryChat ONChatONDesktopGoogleiMessageiOSMessagingMobile MessagingMobileMessagingmobilepostcrossSamsungSamsung ChatONSamsungChatonTue, 28 Feb 2012 07:24:00 EST<![CDATA[Samsung's Bada - Tizen merger still looking pretty likely]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/18/samsungs-bada-tizen-merger-still-looking-pretty-likely/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/18/samsungs-bada-tizen-merger-still-looking-pretty-likely/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/18/samsungs-bada-tizen-merger-still-looking-pretty-likely/#comments
Last week, rumors began circulating around Samsung's Bada OS, with Forbes reporting that the platform would soon be merged with Intel's Tizen project. If finalized, the move would reportedly allow Bada apps to run on Tizen, though it remains unclear whether or not a decision has been made yet. On Monday, a company spokesman apparently confirmed these rumors to Reuters, though Samsung later denied these claims, in a statement provided to All Things D:
Samsung and other members of Tizen Association have not made a firm decision regarding the merge of bada and Tizen. We are carefully looking at it as an option to make the platforms serve better for customers. As Samsung's essential part of multi-platform portfolio, bada will continue to play an important role in democratizing smartphone experience in all markets. Samsung will also support open source based development and continue to work together with other industry stakeholders.
So, um, is it happening? We'll let you know.

Samsung's Bada - Tizen merger still looking pretty likely originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Jan 2012 09:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>badabusinesshandsetintellinuxmergemobilepostcrossoperating systemOperatingSystemosphonerumorsamsungsamsung badaSamsungBadasmartphonetizenWed, 18 Jan 2012 09:04:00 EST<![CDATA[Samsung to merge Bada with Tizen: the OS party just got a little freaky]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/14/samsung-to-merge-bada-with-tizen-the-os-party-just-got-a-little/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/14/samsung-to-merge-bada-with-tizen-the-os-party-just-got-a-little/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/14/samsung-to-merge-bada-with-tizen-the-os-party-just-got-a-little/#comments While everyone was watching Windows Phone parting the iOS / Android curtains, no one noticed Bada and Tizen making cheeky eyes at each other. It was rumored Samsung might open-source its featurephone OS, but according to Forbes, it'll now fuse it with the Intel-backed Tizen project. Once the nuptials are complete, it's reported Bada apps will play nice with Tizen -- including full backwards compatibility -- with developers getting a new integrated SDK and API. We're guessing then, that it's the Bada brand getting the chop when the two linux-based systems tie the knot. The spirit of MeeGo, of course, also lives on in Tizen making this one big concept cocktail. One we should see being poured into "at least one or two" Samsung handsets, and eventually other products, sometime this year -- failing any last-minute cold feet.

Samsung to merge Bada with Tizen: the OS party just got a little freaky originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 14 Jan 2012 14:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>badaintellinuxmobile operating systemmobile osMobileOperatingSystemMobileOsmobilepostcrossopen sourceOpenSourceoperating systemOperatingSystemossamsungtizenSat, 14 Jan 2012 14:13:00 EST<![CDATA[TomTom powering Samsung Wave 3 Bada Maps]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/10/tomtom-powering-samsung-wave-3-maps/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/10/tomtom-powering-samsung-wave-3-maps/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/10/tomtom-powering-samsung-wave-3-maps/#comments
The ink is drying on the agreement 'twixt Samsung and TomTom for the latter's maps and location content will appear on the Wave 3 Bada smartphone. Owners of the device will get access to TomTom's global maps, point of interest information, 3D city maps as well as live traffic updates and speed camera notifications. It's premature to speculate, but given Android and Nokia's free GPS apps, we could see this as the start of a new direction for the mapping company. There's no word on if the service will be free to use or when it'll be available, but we've got plenty of other details tucked below the break.

Continue reading TomTom powering Samsung Wave 3 Bada Maps

TomTom powering Samsung Wave 3 Bada Maps originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Jan 2012 16:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BadaCESCES 2012Ces2012GPSmobilepostcrossmobilepostminiNavigationSamsungSamsung Wave 3SamsungWave3SmartphoneTomTomWave 3Wave3Tue, 10 Jan 2012 16:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Tizen OS exposed, apparently running on an unknown Samsung 'I9500']]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/10/tizen-os-exposed-apparently-running-on-an-unknown-samsung-i950/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/10/tizen-os-exposed-apparently-running-on-an-unknown-samsung-i950/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/10/tizen-os-exposed-apparently-running-on-an-unknown-samsung-i950/#comments An outfit called Realnorth, which claims to be frustrated by the lack of openness around the Tizen OS, has gotten its hands on the SDK and released some screenshots to prove it. If legit, they reveal a basic UI that seems to be inspired by a range of other OSs -- in addition to Tizen's progenitor, MeeGo -- while also managing to look a bit uninspired. It's hard to know whether the absence of frills like widgets is due to this being an early build, or whether it's because Tizen is intended as a lower-end OS, but either way it's too early to make any harsh judgement. Curiously, the user-agent used to grab the screenshots is listed as a "Samsung GT-I9500," which at the very least reminds us that there's a Tizen-running Sammyphone somewhere on the horizon. In fact, this could even become Bada 3.0.

Update: It turns out the screenshots are indeed legit and come from a "very early preview" of the Tizen OS that is now openly available -- see more coverage at the CNXSoft link below.

Continue reading Tizen OS exposed, apparently running on an unknown Samsung 'I9500'

Tizen OS exposed, apparently running on an unknown Samsung 'I9500' originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Jan 2012 05:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>badacesces 2012Ces2012i9500meegomobilepostcrossOSrealnorthsamsungsamsung i9500SamsungI9500TizenTue, 10 Jan 2012 05:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Samsung claims record 300 million mobile sales this year]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/12/samsung-claims-record-300-million-mobile-sales-this-year/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/12/samsung-claims-record-300-million-mobile-sales-this-year/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/12/samsung-claims-record-300-million-mobile-sales-this-year/#commentsAdd together ten million Galaxy S IIs, a dollop of Galaxy Nexii, a gargantuan gathering of Galaxy Notes and a healthy serving of Badas, and what do you get? 300 million handset sales so far in 2011, that's what. And Samsung claims that makes this the best year in its mobile-making history, surpassing 2010 by a whopping 20 million. Of course, more sales doesn't necessarily translate into greater revenue -- Nokia is still the world's largest manufacturer by volume and is a case in point. Nevertheless, we'll know more when Samsung reveals its Q4 earnings next month.

Samsung claims record 300 million mobile sales this year originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Dec 2011 07:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2011BadaearningsGalaxy NexusGalaxy Notegalaxy S IIGalaxyNexusGalaxyNoteGalaxySIimobilemobile salesmobilepostcrossMobileSalesrecordrecord-breakingrevenuessalessamsungSamsung ElectronicsSamsungElectronicsMon, 12 Dec 2011 07:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Samsung Wave 3 crashes onto French shores]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/28/samsung-wave-3-crashes-onto-french-shores/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/28/samsung-wave-3-crashes-onto-french-shores/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/28/samsung-wave-3-crashes-onto-french-shores/#comments

Samsung's new Bada flagship has just docked into our illustrative French port. Announced back in the summer, the Wave 3 arrives on the refreshed Bada 2.0 OS, powered by a 1.4GHz processor and packing a four-inch 800 x 480 Super AMOLED display. Storage matches the watery iteration, with 3GB of memory baked-in, with expansion possible through microSD. Meanwhile, an auto-focus five megapixel shooter will do its best to fill all that space. Not content with France (where Bada-powered handsets have established a niche fanbase), the HSPA-connected smartphone is also penned to hit Germany, Russia and Italy before the end of the year.

Continue reading Samsung Wave 3 crashes onto French shores

Samsung Wave 3 crashes onto French shores originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 Nov 2011 15:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1.4ghz5 megapixel5Megapixelbadabada 2.0bada osBada2.0BadaOsfrancemobilemobilepostminisamsungsamsung wave 3SamsungWave3smartphonesuper amoledSuperAmoledwave 3Wave3Mon, 28 Nov 2011 15:53:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft and Samsung sitting in a tree, patent s-h-a-r-i-n-g]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/28/microsoft-and-samsung-sitting-in-a-tree-patent-s-h-a-r-i-n-g/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/28/microsoft-and-samsung-sitting-in-a-tree-patent-s-h-a-r-i-n-g/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/28/microsoft-and-samsung-sitting-in-a-tree-patent-s-h-a-r-i-n-g/#comments
Microsoft put on its nicest suit when it invited Samsung to the patent-licensing barn dance. Whatever it whispered as the two snuggled close during the slow jams about rescuing the Korean giant from the quagmire of Android litigation, it worked. Sammy has entered into a deal to license Redmond's vast patent archive and, if the rumors are to be believed, it will pay $15 per handset sold for the privilege. (No word on if that includes the $45 million in fees that would just cover sales of the Galaxy S II.) This seems like it could be an implicit vote of no-confidence concerning Google's promises that its acquisition of Motorola would make courtroom drama a thing of the past. There's also a strong reference to the pair collaborating on Mango, and we can only assume that it comes with a significantly less punitive licensing charge in place. Between Android, Windows Phone, Bada and Tizen, it's clear Samsung is hedging its operating system bets. There's a press release after the break, but take our word on it, at no point does it mention Steve Ballmer, lying naked on a bed of money, laughing to himself.

Continue reading Microsoft and Samsung sitting in a tree, patent s-h-a-r-i-n-g

Microsoft and Samsung sitting in a tree, patent s-h-a-r-i-n-g originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Sep 2011 11:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AndroidBadaMicrosoftmobilepostcrossPatentPatent DisputePatent LicensingPatent Licensing DisputePatentDisputePatentLicensingPatentLicensingDisputePatentsSamsungTizenWindows PhoneWindowsPhoneWed, 28 Sep 2011 11:04:00 EST<![CDATA[Android powered 56 percent of smartphones sold in the last three months]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/26/android-powered-56-percent-of-smartphones-sold-in-the-last-3-mon/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/26/android-powered-56-percent-of-smartphones-sold-in-the-last-3-mon/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/26/android-powered-56-percent-of-smartphones-sold-in-the-last-3-mon/#comments Nielsen survey When last we checked in with Nielsen (which was earlier this month) Google's mobile OS had a sizable lead, powering just under 42-percent of smartphones sold, while Apple had cornered a more than respectable 28-percent of the market. In the few short weeks since, Android has seen its share grow to 43-percent. More interestingly, of the over 25,500 surveyed who had purchased a smartphone in the last three months, a whopping 56-percent chose to go with the Goog. Apple held a steady 28-percent across the board. Big G's gains came at the expense of RIM (only 9-percent of phones sold in the last three months were BlackBerries) and the ambiguous "other" (Symbian, Windows Phone 7, Bada, MeeGo, etc... accounted for 6-percent of sales). More important than choice of platform though, is that smartphone sales in general are climbing -- accounting for 58-percent of all handsets sold in August and driving smartphone penetration to 43-percent.

Android powered 56 percent of smartphones sold in the last three months originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Sep 2011 21:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidapplebadablackberrygoogleiosiphonemarket shareMarketSharemeegomobilepostcrossnielsenRIMsmartphone market sharesmartphone penetrationSmartphoneMarketShareSmartphonePenetrationsymbianwindows phone 7WindowsPhone7Mon, 26 Sep 2011 21:40:00 EST<![CDATA[OpenMobile demos ACL for MeeGo, promises 100 percent compatibility with Android apps (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/22/openmobile-demos-acl-for-meego-promises-100-compatibility-with/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/22/openmobile-demos-acl-for-meego-promises-100-compatibility-with/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/22/openmobile-demos-acl-for-meego-promises-100-compatibility-with/#comments OpenMobile is a new company on the application compatibility scene whose primary product, the Application Compatibility Layer, promises to bring Android's large volume of apps to smaller platforms. In the following video, ACL is shown running on MeeGo, where the creators promise full compatibility with every Android app -- without the need for developer modification -- by leveraging Google's runtime environment and Dalvik VM. While support for Intel and Nokia's misbegotten lovechild is first out the door (along with Linux itself), the company plans to introduce similar versions for Bada, QNX, Symbian, WebOS and Windows. Like its competitor, Alien Dalvik, OpenMobile is positioning its Application Compatibility Layer to OEM manufacturers rather than consumers. Unfortunately, this eliminates any hope you might've had for installing Hanging with Friends on that N9 you've pre-ordered -- unless OpenMobile's able to convince the folks in Espoo with a mighty good sales pitch, anyway.

[Thanks, Mikko]

Continue reading OpenMobile demos ACL for MeeGo, promises 100 percent compatibility with Android apps (video)

OpenMobile demos ACL for MeeGo, promises 100 percent compatibility with Android apps (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Sep 2011 09:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aclandroidandroid compatibility layerAndroidCompatibilityLayerappappsbadacompatibilitydalvikgooglelinuxmeegomobilepostminiopenmobileqnxsymbianvideoweboswindowsThu, 22 Sep 2011 09:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Samsung taking Bada open source in 2012?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/20/samsung-taking-bada-open-source-in-2012/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/20/samsung-taking-bada-open-source-in-2012/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/20/samsung-taking-bada-open-source-in-2012/#comments Samsung invited the world to adventure with its own smartphone OS, Bada, almost two years ago and so far most of us have turned down the offer. Of course, that trip could look more appealing if a Wall Street Journal rumor is true and the company is planning to open source it for use by developers and other manufacturers alike next year. Citing the usual "person familiar with the situation", Samsung apparently isn't interested in snagging any outside companies like, say, webOS, but wants to strengthen its independence from Android after Google announced it will purchase Motorola. Right now, it feels like we've already seen this story play out for the still-kicking Symbian. On the other hand, maybe Samsung, with its massive manufacturing capabilities and current hit-making prowess, can strike the right balance of hardware, software and apps to make it worthwhile. If it tries and fails, well, maybe the folks in Redmond will be looking for another close friend.

Samsung taking Bada open source in 2012? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Sep 2011 02:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidbadamobile osMobileOsmobilepostcrossopen sourceOpenSourceoperating systemOperatingSystemosrumorsamsungsymbianwall street journalWallStreetJournalTue, 20 Sep 2011 02:23:00 EST<![CDATA[Mobile Miscellany: week of September 12, 2011]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/17/mobile-miscellany-week-of-september-12-2011/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/17/mobile-miscellany-week-of-september-12-2011/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/17/mobile-miscellany-week-of-september-12-2011/#comments This week was packed with news on the mobile front, so it was easy to miss a few stories here and there. Here's some of the other stuff that happened in the wide world of wireless for the week of September 12, 2011:
  • Vodacom South Africa has joined the data throttling club, though this carrier is taking a slightly different spin: BlackBerry users consuming more than 100MB of data each month will find their download speeds downgraded to GPRS or EDGE. The company claims this will only affect less than five percent of its BlackBerry customers. [via N4BB]
  • Bada fans: the Samsung Wave 578 is featured on Orange's site as "coming soon." [via The Inquirer]
  • Motorola announced the availability of the Fire and Fire XT in India this week. [via Motorola]
  • The Sony Ericsson Xperia Ray is now being sold at Vodafone UK. [via Vodafone]
  • Parrot announced the most recent addition to its lineup of Bluetooth products, called the Minikit+, a refresh of its popular hands-free speakerphone. The new model offers simultaneous pairing and voice commands. [via Parrot]
  • Research in Motion is hoping to put the NFC functionality in OS 7 to good use, as it announced that the BlackBerry Bold 9900 / 9330 as well as the Curve 9350 / 9360 will support HID's iCLASS digital keys, which means corporate folks will able to use their smartphone as an access card. [via PhoneScoop]
  • While digging through the Droid Bionic's webtop app, the names of two unknown Motorola phones were discovered: the Edison and the Common. Little is known about the Common, but a recent FCC filing mentioned the Edison and is speculated to be the follow-up to the Atrix, albeit sans LTE as originally hoped. [via Droid-Life]
  • The manager of the Windows Phone 7 Marketplace, Matt Bencke, wrote a post pleading developers to submit their Mango-compatible apps as soon as possible, as the new update is coming to existing phones soon and it's obviously very important to have Windows Phone 7.5 run as smooth as possible. [via WMPowerUser]
  • A leaked Radio Shack roadmap indicates the HTC Vigor should be available in stores by October 20th, and the QWERTY-packing Samsung Stratosphere will be up for online ordering as early as October 6th. As this is a third-party retailer, we can't say with surety that these dates reflect the carrier's official release. [via Droid-Life]

Mobile Miscellany: week of September 12, 2011 originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 17 Sep 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>4gbadabluetoothcommonedisonfirefire xtFireXthands-freehtc vigorHtcVigoriclasslteminikitmiscmiscellaneousmiscellanymmmobilemobile miscellanyMobileMiscellanymobilepostminimotorolamotorola commonmotorola edisonmotorola firemotorola fire xtMotorolaCommonMotorolaEdisonMotorolaFireMotorolaFireXtNFC:near-field communicationsNfc:near-fieldCommunicationsparrotparrot minikitParrotMinikitradio shackRadioShackraysamsungsamsung stratospheresamsung wave 578SamsungStratosphereSamsungWave578sony ericssonsony ericsson xperia raySonyEricssonSonyEricssonXperiaRaystratosphereverizonverizon wirelessVerizonWirelessvigorvodacomvodafonevodafone ukVodafoneUkvzwwavewave 578Wave578webtopxperia rayXperiaRaySat, 17 Sep 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[All Samsung Wave phones will get Bada 2.0, if they can handle the upgrade]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/11/all-samsung-wave-phones-will-get-bada-2-0-if-they-can-handle-th/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/11/all-samsung-wave-phones-will-get-bada-2-0-if-they-can-handle-th/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/11/all-samsung-wave-phones-will-get-bada-2-0-if-they-can-handle-th/#comments Bada 2.0 won't just be riding the Wave 3, Wave M and Wave Y, but according to a tweet from Samsung, it'll be available on all older Wave models as well. The company did warn that the OS could run "differently" between devices based on specifications like CPU and memory size, which may affect lower end models like the Wave 525 and Wave 533. However, if you are the proud owner of any of the fancier Wave phones like the S8500, expect the full OS makeover. The upgrade is due to splash across Europe some time in the fourth quarter, rolling out worldwide soon thereafter.

All Samsung Wave phones will get Bada 2.0, if they can handle the upgrade originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 11 Sep 2011 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>badabada 2.0Bada2.0cellphonemobilemobile phoneMobilePhonemobilepostminioperating systemOperatingSystemOSS8500samsungsamsung waveSamsungWavesmartphoneupgradeWave 3Wave 525Wave 533Wave MWave YWave3Wave525Wave533WaveMWaveYSun, 11 Sep 2011 13:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Samsung Wave 3 hands-on (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/01/samsung-wave-3-hands-on-video/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/01/samsung-wave-3-hands-on-video/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/01/samsung-wave-3-hands-on-video/#comments Had enough Samsung this morning? Well, how about a little more Samsung, then. Also on the company's laundry list of new devices is the Wave, which was announced earlier this week. The Wave 3 is the highest end of the three new devices carrying that name, packing a zippy 1.4GHz processor, which seems to handle tasks with ease. Like most of the rest of the products introduced here at IFA, the screen is the centerpiece of the device, a brilliant 4-inch WVGA unit. Also like the rest of Samsung's handsets, the hardware is really terrific on the Wave, glossy screen complimenting a brushed aluminum back.

The handset runs Bada 2.0, which means that we're not likely to be seeing the thing in the US any time in the near future -- Samsung has largely backed away from US support for the mobile operating system, though it promises to expand its selection of applications from third-party app developers. Also new on the software front is ChatON, a mobile messaging service which we were unfortunately unable to give a spin here in Berlin.

Click on past the break for a hands-on video.

Gallery: Samsung Wave 3 hands-on

Continue reading Samsung Wave 3 hands-on (video)

Samsung Wave 3 hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Sep 2011 07:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>4-inchbadahands-onifaifa 2011Ifa2011mobilepostcrosssamsungsmartphonevideowavewave 3Wave3wvgaThu, 01 Sep 2011 07:59:00 EST<![CDATA[ComScore calls Android top dog, Apple pulls further ahead of RIM]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/31/comscore-calls-android-top-dog-apple-pulls-further-ahead-of-rim/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/31/comscore-calls-android-top-dog-apple-pulls-further-ahead-of-rim/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/31/comscore-calls-android-top-dog-apple-pulls-further-ahead-of-rim/#comments According to ComScore, out of the 82.2 million people in the US with a smartphone (up ten percent from last quarter), Android came in first as the biggest platform yet again, capturing a whopping 41.8 percent of the market like a boss. In a not-so-close second, Apple was able to snag 27 percent, followed by RIM in the third place spot with 21.7 percent -- down 4 percentage points from last quarter. Pulling up the rear is Microsoft with 5.7 percent, and lastly Symbian with a grim 1.9 percent -- both down when compared to the previous three months. As far as US hardware manufacturers goes, Samsung is still on top with 25.5 percent of the market, while LG got 20.9 percent and finally Motorola with 14.1 percent, down 1.5 percentage points from before. Apple was able to snag some standing in the OEM space with a 9.5 percent share, while BlackBerry-maker RIM only captured 7.6 percent. As the battle wages on, looks like Androids, iPhones, and BlackBerrys (oh my) are still on top -- at least for this quarter. Check out the PR after the break for the full scorecard.

Continue reading ComScore calls Android top dog, Apple pulls further ahead of RIM

ComScore calls Android top dog, Apple pulls further ahead of RIM originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 31 Aug 2011 04:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidapplebadaBlackBerryBlackBerry OSBlackberryOscarrierscellphoneComScoregooglehardwareiosLGmanufacturersmarket shareMarketSharemicrosoftmobilepostcrossmotorolaOEMplatformsresearch in motionResearchInMotionRIMsamsungsmartphonesmartphone marketSmartphoneMarketsmartphonesstatisticsstatssymbianwindows phonewindows phone 7WindowsPhoneWindowsPhone7wp7Wed, 31 Aug 2011 04:09:00 EST<![CDATA[Samsung announces three Wave handsets, dripping in Bada 2.0 and ChatON]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/30/samsung-announces-three-wave-handsets-dripping-in-bada-2-0-and/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/30/samsung-announces-three-wave-handsets-dripping-in-bada-2-0-and/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/30/samsung-announces-three-wave-handsets-dripping-in-bada-2-0-and/#comments It's shaping up to a be a busy IFA for Samsung. Barely 24 hours after announcing its new ChatON messaging client, the manufacturer is now gearing up to release a troika of new Bada 2.0-powered Wave handsets -- the Wave 3, Wave M and Wave Y -- set to make their debut this week in Berlin. Leading the pack is the Wave 3, which leaked earlier this week. Powered by a 1.4GHz processor, this little guy boasts a 4-inch WVGA Super AMOLED display, 3GB of memory (along with a 32GB microSD slot) and a five megapixel, auto-focus-enabled shooter. The Wave M, meanwhile, packs slightly less juice, with a 832MHz processor, a 3.65-inch WVGA screen and 150MB of onboard storage (with a 2GB inbox and 32GB microSD slot). Rounding out the collection is the Wave Y, with its 3.2-inch HVGA display, 832MHz engine and two megapixel camera. All three feature your usual smattering of WiFi / Bluetooth 3.0 capabilities and will ship with ChatON and Samsung's Social Hub baked into their DNA. No word yet on pricing or availability, but you can find out more in the full press release, after the break.

Continue reading Samsung announces three Wave handsets, dripping in Bada 2.0 and ChatON

Samsung announces three Wave handsets, dripping in Bada 2.0 and ChatON originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Aug 2011 03:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>33.2-inch32 GB32Gb4-inch5 megapixel5Megapixel65-inchbadabada 2.0bada OSBada2.0BadaOsbluetooth 3.0Bluetooth3.0camerachatonHVGAifaifa 2011Ifa2011megapixelmicrosdmobilepostcrossoperating systemOperatingSystemOSsamsungSamsung Electronicssamsung wavesamsung wave 3samsung wave msamsung wave ySamsungWaveSamsungWave3SamsungWaveMSamsungWaveYsmartphonesocial hubSocialHubsuper amoledSuperAmoledwavewave 3wave mwave yWave3WaveMWaveYWi-FiWVGATue, 30 Aug 2011 03:38:00 EST<![CDATA[Samsung's ChatON messaging service brings free texting to Android, iOS and BlackBerry (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/29/samsungs-chaton-messaging-service-brings-free-texting-to-androi/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/29/samsungs-chaton-messaging-service-brings-free-texting-to-androi/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/29/samsungs-chaton-messaging-service-brings-free-texting-to-androi/#comments
It looks like Samsung is about to dip its toes in the mobile messaging market, with a new service called ChatON. Slated to debut at this week's IFA, the app brings texting, group chat and image / video sharing to not only Samsung's Bada OS, but to iOS, Android and BlackBerry platforms, as well. According to the Korean manufacturer, the new client will be available in two versions: a basic one for feature phones and another, more complex variation that allows smartphone users to comment on other profiles, send animated messages and visualize their most frequently contacted friends, as displayed above. The company is also planning to release a web-based version that would bring similar functionality to PCs. ChatON is slated to go live next month (in more than 120 countries and 62 languages), but you can find more information in the demo video and translated PR, after the break.

Continue reading Samsung's ChatON messaging service brings free texting to Android, iOS and BlackBerry (video)

Samsung's ChatON messaging service brings free texting to Android, iOS and BlackBerry (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Aug 2011 06:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidappbadabada osBadaOsblackberrychatonfeature phoneFeaturePhonefreegroup chatGroupChatifaifa 2011Ifa2011imageioslaunchmessaging clientmessaging serviceMessagingClientMessagingServicemobilepostcrossoperating systemOperatingSystemOSplatformsamsungsamsung chatONSamsungChatonsharingsmartphonesocial networkingSocialNetworkingvideoMon, 29 Aug 2011 06:39:00 EST<![CDATA[Samsung's IFA app unveils Galaxy Tab 7.7, Wave 3 and Galaxy Note]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/25/samsungs-ifa-app-unveils-galaxy-tab-7-7-wave-3-and-galaxy-note/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/25/samsungs-ifa-app-unveils-galaxy-tab-7-7-wave-3-and-galaxy-note/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/25/samsungs-ifa-app-unveils-galaxy-tab-7-7-wave-3-and-galaxy-note/#comments We're about a week away from this year's IFA, but that's no reason for the tech teases to dry up. According to a report on This Is My Next, a bevy of product logos from Sammy's Android trade show app were unearthed by a tipster searching for clues in the APK. Among the soon-to-be unveiled products are the new Galaxy Tab 7.7, Wave 3 and Galaxy Note. While we've haven't heard much about the Note, we aren't really surprised to see a 7.7-inch (we assume) iteration of the OEM's popular Honeycomb tablet and an update to its Bada OS-running Wave smartphone line. Not to worry folks, you won't have to live with the suspense for long -- we'll be reporting live from Berlin before you know it.

Samsung's IFA app unveils Galaxy Tab 7.7, Wave 3 and Galaxy Note originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 25 Aug 2011 16:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AndroidAndroid Honeycombandroid honeycomb tabletsAndroidHoneycombAndroidHoneycombTabletsBadaBada OSBadaOsGalaxy NoteGalaxy Tab 10.1GalaxyNoteGalaxyTab10.1Google AndroidGoogleAndroidHD Super AMOLEDHdSuperAmoledhoneycombIFAIFA 2011IFA BerlinIfa2011IfaBerlinmobilepostcrossphonephonesSamsungSamsung Galaxy NoteSamsung Galaxy Tab 7.7Samsung WaveSamsung Wave 3SamsungGalaxyNoteSamsungGalaxyTab7.7SamsungWaveSamsungWave3smartphonesmartphonestabtablettabletsWave 3Wave3Thu, 25 Aug 2011 16:12:00 EST<![CDATA[Mobile Miscellany: week of August 8, 2011]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/13/mobile-miscellany-week-of-august-8-2011/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/13/mobile-miscellany-week-of-august-8-2011/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/13/mobile-miscellany-week-of-august-8-2011/#comments Here's some of the other stuff that happened in the wide world of wireless for the week of August 8, 2011:
  • A Toshiba TG01 running Windows Phone 7 was put on private sale. Sadly, the camera doesn't work and its resistive screen won't support multitouch, but otherwise seems to work fine. Offers are being accepted. [via MobileTechWorld]
  • More leaked pictures of the LG Flip II surfaced, showing a couple more angles of the slider phone that has a secondary touch screen set right in between both sides of a split keyboard. Definitely not your average phone. [via LandofDroid]
  • Tired of hearing about the Droid Bionic? Skip this blurb. Someone who said they were a tester of the Bionic claimed the new LTE device will, as hoped, have an improved battery life; in fact, the tester was able to get 15 hours of full use out it. [via AndroidCentral]
  • Need your dumbphone fix? Verizon and LG announced the arrival of the LG Revere this week, a simple clamshell phone that, if you're not careful, could easily transport you back to 2005. It's packing a 1.3 megapixel camera and Bluetooth. That's about all there is to it. [via PRNewsWire]
  • Google Movies, the video app that reached most Honeycomb devices over the summer, is now available for any Android device that has Froyo or better. The app gives you access to plenty of movie rentals and even gives you a spot to store your own personal collection. [via AndroidCentral]
  • Samsung is rumored to be following the lead of Nokia and changing the naming scheme of its phones. Essentially, its Galaxy lineup would be grouped into four separate categories, each defined by its own letter: R would be top-of-the-line, W for high-tier, M for midrange, and Y for entry-level. A similar naming system would be set up for Sammy's Bada devices. Check the via for the full breakdown. [via UnwiredView]
  • The HTC Bliss -- aka "the girl phone," as many seem to be calling it these days -- may be coming to Verizon as an exclusive before heading to Europe. It will come in three different color choices, has an 800MHz CPU with Adreno 205 GPU, and should be preloaded with Android 2.3.4 and HTC Sense 3.5. (thx Eugen) [via HTCInside(translated)]
  • The Motorola Fire, Europe's version of the Droid Pro, is now up for presale in the UK. Online retailer Clove reports that the Fire, in addition to the specs we've already heard about, has a user interface named "Switch." We're curious to see if this is the official name of Blur's replacement. [via Phandroid]
  • We've seen the HTC Merge hit US Cellular, but now it's available for Cellular South customers as well. It's all yours for $100 and a two-year commitment. [via AndroidCentral]

Mobile Miscellany: week of August 8, 2011 originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 13 Aug 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>4gandroid 2.3android 2.3.4Android2.3Android2.3.4badabatteryclamshelldroiddroid bionicDroidBionicdumbphoneflipflip iiFlipIigalaxygalaxy mgalaxy rgalaxy wgalaxy yGalaxyMGalaxyRGalaxyWGalaxyYgirl phoneGirlPhonehtchtc blisshtc sensehtc sense 3.5HtcBlissHtcSenseHtcSense3.5leakedleakslglg fliplg flip 2lg flip iilg reverLgFlipLgFlip2LgFlipIiLgReverltemiscellaneousmiscellanymmmobilemobile miscellanyMobileMiscellanymoto blurMotoBlurmotorolamotorola droid bionicmotorola switchmotorola switch UIMotorolaDroidBionicMotorolaSwitchMotorolaSwitchUimultitouchnaming schemeNamingSchemeresistive screenResistiveScreenrumorrumorssamsungsamsung badasamsung galaxySamsungBadaSamsungGalaxysensesense 3.5Sense3.5switchswitch UISwitchUitg01toshibatoshiba tg01ToshibaTg01verizonverizon wirelessVerizonWirelessvzwwindows phone 7WindowsPhone7wp7Sat, 13 Aug 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PhoneGap 1.0 lets devs write apps for seven platforms (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/01/phonegap-1-0-lets-devs-write-apps-for-six-platforms-wp7-not-inc/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/01/phonegap-1-0-lets-devs-write-apps-for-six-platforms-wp7-not-inc/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/01/phonegap-1-0-lets-devs-write-apps-for-six-platforms-wp7-not-inc/#comments Until now, mobile app developers have followed a pretty predictable MO: develop for iOS first, Android second, and everyone else after that. Since last year, many of you code monkeys out there have been tapping into Nitobi's PhoneGap, a project that makes it easier to churn out apps for almost every OS, all at once. It's been picking up steam, with about 40,000 downloads per month, 600,000 in total, and a steady stream of donations. That all culminated this weekend with the release of PhoneGap 1.0, which lets devs use HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to write and deploy apps for iOS, Android, BlackBerry, webOS, Bada, and Symbian. That's a long list indeed, but we see one glaring omission: Windows Phone 7. Hit the source link to download it for free and check out the promo video below for an oh-so quick overview.

Update: Oops! Looks like WP7 is included! Our apologies, and feel free to celebrate accordingly.

Continue reading PhoneGap 1.0 lets devs write apps for seven platforms (video)

PhoneGap 1.0 lets devs write apps for seven platforms (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 01 Aug 2011 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidappappsbadaBlackBerryBlackBerry OSBlackberryOsCSSdevdeveloperdevelopersdevelopmentdevelopment toolsDevelopmentToolsdevsGoogleiOSiPhoneJavaScriptMangomobile appmobile appsMobileAppMobileAppsnodoPhoneGapResearch in MotionResearchInMotionRIMsmartphonesmartphonesSymbianvideowebosWindows PhoneWindows Phone 7WindowsPhoneWindowsPhone7WP7Mon, 01 Aug 2011 11:20:00 EST<![CDATA[ComScore: Android grows larger than ever among US subscribers, Apple belittles RIM]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/06/comscore-android-grows-larger-than-ever-among-us-subscribers-a/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/06/comscore-android-grows-larger-than-ever-among-us-subscribers-a/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/06/comscore-android-grows-larger-than-ever-among-us-subscribers-a/#comments The latest ComScore results from the last quarter are in, and the US mobile device wars were hotter than ever as 13 percent more people reported owning a smartphone. Google conquered most users' territory with Android climbing just over five percent (now totaling 36.4 percent) and still claiming first for mobile software platforms. Apple's iOS destroyer took second place (at 26 percent) partially due to RIM's S.S. BlackBerry OS sinking about five percent (now 25.7 percent) to claim third, while Microsoft and HP / Palm rounded out the bunch struggling to stay in the fight with even lower single-digit scores. In the OEM region Samsung claimed first yet again (although slightly dropping to 24.5 percent), with LG and Motorola landing in second and third respectively, each keeping its place from the prior quarter. In the last two slots, Apple again bested RIM whose devices barely dropped half of a percent, but enough to let the slight growth of iDevices snatch up 4th. The source link below is waiting to be clicked if you want the full battle statistics.

ComScore: Android grows larger than ever among US subscribers, Apple belittles RIM originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 06 Jun 2011 04:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidapplebadablackberryBlackberryOscellphonecom scoreComScoregooglehpHpPalmiosipadiphonelgmarket shareMarketSharemicrosoftmotorolapalmrimsamsungsmartphonesmartphone marketSmartphoneMarketweboswindows phonewindows phone 7WindowsPhoneWindowsPhone7wp7Mon, 06 Jun 2011 04:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Samsung to release two Bada 2.0 handsets with NFC in Q4, software update in July?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/10/samsung-to-release-two-bada-2-0-handsets-with-nfc-in-q4-softwar/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/10/samsung-to-release-two-bada-2-0-handsets-with-nfc-in-q4-softwar/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/10/samsung-to-release-two-bada-2-0-handsets-with-nfc-in-q4-softwar/#comments Some of you Samsungers are probably anticipating the snazzy Wave 578 due out in May or June outside the US, but the sad news is it won't be shipped with the upcoming Bada 2.0 OS. Fret not, though, as Russian blog Bada World claims to have obtained some juicy details that'll cheer up Bada fanatics. The above slide -- apparently sourced from a Samsung France conference from a few days ago -- lists a pair of new but unnamed handsets that'll pack the new software, along with 7.2Mbps HSDPA, Bluetooth 3.0, and the seemingly trendsetting NFC. The difference between these two phones? One of them appears to be the flagship Bada 2.0 model, which expects a September launch with a 3.65-inch HVGA display, a 5 megapixel main camera, plus a VGA secondary camera. The second device will follow a month later, sporting a smaller 3.14-inch QVGA screen and just a 3 megapixel imager.

In related news, TNW India reports that Bada 2.0 will be "first experienced in India" around July, though no hardware is mentioned here. This could imply that existing Bada users in India -- where Samsung's R&D develops 30 percent of Bada applications -- may be one of the first to obtain the 2.0 update, and it shouldn't be long before the rest of the world get their share of this piping hot pie. Anyhow, be rest assured that we'll keep our eyes peeled open for more Bada 2.0 news -- it'll be interesting to see where Samsung's next big push will take us.

Samsung to release two Bada 2.0 handsets with NFC in Q4, software update in July? originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 10 Apr 2011 12:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>7.2 mbps7.2MbpsBadaBada 2Bada 2.0Bada2Bada2.0Bluetooth 3.0Bluetooth3.0cellphoneFranceHSDPAHSDPA 7.2Hsdpa7.2leakmobile phoneMobilePhoneNFCosphoneroadmapSamsungSamsung Wave 578SamsungWave578smartphoneWaveWave 578Wave578Sun, 10 Apr 2011 12:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Samsung Wave hacked to boot Froyo instead of Bada (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/25/samsung-wave-hacked-to-boot-froyo-instead-of-bada/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/25/samsung-wave-hacked-to-boot-froyo-instead-of-bada/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/25/samsung-wave-hacked-to-boot-froyo-instead-of-bada/#comments
It looks like the Samsung Wave S8500 we reviewed last year is in the process of losing its wannabe smartphone status and becoming a bona fide Android device. Some enterprising Polish hackers were able to successfully boot the Galaxy S' build of Android 2.2.1 on the Bada-equipped Wave by exploiting some security holes. The project is still in the early stages and facing some hurdles with RAM access and CPU drivers, but it appears to be gaining momentum. Android on the Wave is a worthy proposition since the phone is quite powerful (1GHz CPU, 512MB RAM), yet small (3.3-inch WVGA Super AMOLED display), and features top notch materials plus build quality, as well as an excellent camera. Check out the mod in action in the video above.

[Thanks, ememop]

Samsung Wave hacked to boot Froyo instead of Bada (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 25 Mar 2011 03:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AndroidAndroid 2.2Android 2.2.1Android2.2Android2.2.1BadaBadaWorldFroyoGalaxy SGalaxySGooglehackmobileSamsungSamsung Galaxy SSamsung WaveSamsung Wave S8500SamsungGalaxySSamsungWaveSamsungWaveS8500WaveFri, 25 Mar 2011 03:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Samsung tries its hand at poaching disgruntled Symbian devs for Bada]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/09/samsung-tries-its-hand-at-poaching-disgruntled-symbian-devs-for/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/09/samsung-tries-its-hand-at-poaching-disgruntled-symbian-devs-for/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/09/samsung-tries-its-hand-at-poaching-disgruntled-symbian-devs-for/#comments We can't help but feel like this is one sinking ship coming to the aid of another, but for what it's worth, Samsung has apparently started emailing Symbian developers in India with a very simple message: "if you're unhappy about what's going on, give Bada a shot." Sammy, of course, is referring to Nokia's decision to slowly phase out Symbian over the course of roughly 150 million additional shipped handsets -- not a small quantity, granted, but the platform's still got a definitive expiration timeline attached to it now that's undoubtedly going to sour devs who want a mobile platform that they know will be around for the long haul. Though Bada doesn't have the global traction that Symbian enjoys, it's definitely geared to target some of the same low-end market segments Symbian was starting to gun for over the past couple years... so we suppose we see some synergy. Still, if it were our engineering dollars, we'd be hard-pressed not to target a platform with a little more multi-manufacturer support and worldwide reach -- Android, for instance. Can't blame Samsung for trying!

[Thanks, Peter]

Samsung tries its hand at poaching disgruntled Symbian devs for Bada originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Mar 2011 22:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>badadeveloperdevelopersindiasamsungsymbianWed, 09 Mar 2011 22:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Samsung's Wave 578 outted with NFC love, representing the Bada gang]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/14/samsungs-wave-578-outted-with-nfc-love-representing-the-bada-g/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/14/samsungs-wave-578-outted-with-nfc-love-representing-the-bada-g/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/14/samsungs-wave-578-outted-with-nfc-love-representing-the-bada-g/#comments Look, we all know Samsung's Bada platform isn't exactly everyone's first choice when picking a new phone, but if you're eyeing up an NFC-compatible handset within a reasonable budget later this year, then this Wave 578 could be a potential candidate. Packed within the metallic body is a dinky 3.2-inch 432 x 240 LCD screen with multitouch, compensated by a 3.2 megapixel rear camera, a VGA front camera, Bluetooth 3.0, and 802.11 b/g/n WiFi. Alas, there's no HD video support for both playback and recording, but you can at least take this as an indication for a wallet-friendly price point. Expect to see this featurephone on the shelves across Europe, South East Asia, and Middle East starting in May. Press release after the break.

Continue reading Samsung's Wave 578 outted with NFC love, representing the Bada gang

Samsung's Wave 578 outted with NFC love, representing the Bada gang originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 Feb 2011 11:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>802.11bgn802.11nbadabluetooth 3.0Bluetooth3.0cellphonefeaturephonemobilemobile phoneMobilePhonenear field communicationNearFieldCommunicationnfcphonesamsungwavewave 578Wave578Mon, 14 Feb 2011 11:52:00 EST<![CDATA[Samsung's Bada 2.0 to move to 'web-centric' apps, getting ad framework and multitasking]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/20/samsungs-bada-2-0-to-move-to-web-centric-apps-getting-ad-fra/http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/20/samsungs-bada-2-0-to-move-to-web-centric-apps-getting-ad-fra/http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/20/samsungs-bada-2-0-to-move-to-web-centric-apps-getting-ad-fra/#comments We're still hesitant to call Bada a "smartphone platform" in the same breath as Android and iOS -- but despite our best attempts to write it off, Samsung's homegrown handset platform keeps chugging and expanding to new hardware. A developer event in South Korea appears to have yielded the first details on what Bada 2.0 will bring when it launches next year, and needless to say, it adds a bunch of smartphone-worthy stuff to the mix: an honest-to-goodness ad framework of some sort, better support for apps that use web technologies, multitasking, NFC capabilities, and a brand new SDK that'll support Mac and Linux. We're still going to see a whole lot more hardware -- and a more cohesive story -- to justify why even low-end "smartphones" should be using Bada over Android, but it's an interesting development nonetheless.

Samsung's Bada 2.0 to move to 'web-centric' apps, getting ad framework and multitasking originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 20 Dec 2010 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>badabada 2bada 2.0Bada2Bada2.0rumorsamsungMon, 20 Dec 2010 14:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Samsung's Bada 1.2 SDK goes gold]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/12/samsungs-bada-1-2-sdk-goes-gold/http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/12/samsungs-bada-1-2-sdk-goes-gold/http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/12/samsungs-bada-1-2-sdk-goes-gold/#commentsJust a little more than three months after the release of the final 1.0 SDK, Samsung has gone gold with version 1.2, proving that it can go tit-for-tat with Android in releasing new operating system versions at a ridiculous pace. Of course, in Bada's case, it's only Samsung developing devices -- so we imagine they have the situation under control. The big new feature in 1.2 would be support for the latest batch of Bada phones in the marketplace like the Wave 575 and Wave II, but you've also got improved Flash support and a full OpenGL ES implementation, both of which should bump up Bada's street cred in the gaming community. The final version of the SDK is available -- for free, naturally -- to download now.

Samsung's Bada 1.2 SDK goes gold originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 12 Dec 2010 06:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>badabada 1.2bada sdkBada1.2BadaSdkmobilesamsungsdkSun, 12 Dec 2010 06:48:00 EST<![CDATA[T9 Trace ships as QuickType on Samsung's Wave II]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/29/t9-trace-ships-as-quicktype-on-samsungs-wave-ii/http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/29/t9-trace-ships-as-quicktype-on-samsungs-wave-ii/http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/29/t9-trace-ships-as-quicktype-on-samsungs-wave-ii/#comments So Samsung's Bada 1.2-based Wave II is now shipping in a variety of European and Asian markets, and it turns out that so phone's so-called "QuickType" input method is actually T9 Trace, Nuance's Swype competitor that was announced earlier this year. Just like Swype, T9 Trace works by letting the user glide a finger around the virtual keyboard to identify what letters they're trying to type -- and if it works as well as Swype does, it's a surprisingly natural, accurate, and fast way to enter text. Samsung, of course, has been one of Swype's longest-running partners, notably having its Omnia II featured in a Verizon commercial where the Guinness record for fastest text is broken -- so it'll be interesting to see whether Sammy keeps a healthy mix of T9 Trace and Swype in its products, or if Nuance has locked up a more lucrative deal. At any rate, follow the break for the full press release.

Continue reading T9 Trace ships as QuickType on Samsung's Wave II

T9 Trace ships as QuickType on Samsung's Wave II originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Nov 2010 11:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>badabada 1.2Bada1.2mobilenuancequicktypesamsungt9t9 traceT9Tracewave iiWaveIiMon, 29 Nov 2010 11:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Samsung Wave II has its Super Clear LCD tested against Galaxy S Super AMOLED display]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/19/samsung-wave-ii-has-its-super-clear-lcd-tested-against-galaxy-s/http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/19/samsung-wave-ii-has-its-super-clear-lcd-tested-against-galaxy-s/http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/19/samsung-wave-ii-has-its-super-clear-lcd-tested-against-galaxy-s/#comments Well, "tested" might be a strong word, but the living legend that is Eldar Murtazin has squared up Samsung's latest Bada handset against the company's top of the line Galaxy S for a bit of side-by-side screen comparison action. The 3.7-inch display on the Wave II holds its own admirably against the hyper-advanced Super AMOLED panel alongside it, but it does seem to have a tendency to introduce a slight yellow hue into images, as illustrated above. Regrettably, the Russian weather wasn't conducive to doing any comparisons under sunlight, so we'll just have to content ourselves with even more pictures setting the Wave II up against Nokia's N8 and Samsung's first Bada phone, the Wave numero uno.

[Thanks, Ronan]

Samsung Wave II has its Super Clear LCD tested against Galaxy S Super AMOLED display originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 19 Oct 2010 07:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>badacomparisondisplaydisplay comparisonDisplayComparisondisplayseldareldar murtazinEldarMurtazingalaxy sGalaxySsamsungsamsung wavesamsung wave 2samsung wave iiSamsungWaveSamsungWave2SamsungWaveIiside-by-sidesuper amoledsuper clear lcdsuper lcdsuper tftSuperAmoledSuperClearLcdSuperLcdSuperTftwave 2wave iiWave2WaveIiTue, 19 Oct 2010 07:24:00 EST<![CDATA[Samsung Wave 525, 575, and 533: Bada for Russia and beyond]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/12/samsung-wave-525-575-and-533-bada-for-russia-and-beyond/http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/12/samsung-wave-525-575-and-533-bada-for-russia-and-beyond/http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/12/samsung-wave-525-575-and-533-bada-for-russia-and-beyond/#comments Don't let the namesake fool you: these aren't high-end phones, nor are most of the devices in Sammy's Bada stable. Instead, the cryptically-named Wave 525, 575, and 533 look intent on keeping things affordable with features like 3.2-inch WQVGA displays and 3.2 megapixel cameras across the board. The first two, the 525 and 575, are slates; the main difference between the two is that the 525 is EDGE-only while the 575 adds support for dual-band 3.6Mbps HSDPA. Both are available in your choice of black, white, or pink. The 533, meanwhile, is a landscape QWERTY slider with specs roughly mirroring the 525's -- that is, you won't find any 3G here. The 525 is already on sale in Russia, while the 533 will hit the streets of Moscow later this month; afterward, they'll start to spread out to other markets in Europe, Latin America, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. Looking for high-speed data? The 575 will be getting its debut in Sweden (of all places!) before launching around the globe. Follow the break for Sammy's full press release.

Continue reading Samsung Wave 525, 575, and 533: Bada for Russia and beyond

Samsung Wave 525, 575, and 533: Bada for Russia and beyond originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Oct 2010 10:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>badamobileqwertysamsungslatesliderwavewave 525wave 533wave 575Wave525Wave533Wave575Tue, 12 Oct 2010 10:53:00 EST<![CDATA[Samsung announces Bada-powered Wave II, not quite a whole new Wave]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/04/samsung-announces-bada-powered-wave-ii-not-quite-a-whole-new-wa/http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/04/samsung-announces-bada-powered-wave-ii-not-quite-a-whole-new-wa/http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/04/samsung-announces-bada-powered-wave-ii-not-quite-a-whole-new-wa/#comments We only just got our hands on the Wave S8500, but it looks like Samsung isn't wasting any time in further expanding its Bada options -- the company has just introduced the new and slightly improved Wave II. The biggest difference over the previous Wave, it seems, is a larger 3.7-inch WVGA SLCD screen, compared to a 3.3-inch AMOLED on its predecessor. Otherwise, you'll get the same speedy 1GHz Hummingbird processor, the same LED flash-equipped 5-megapixel camera and, of course, the same Bada -- although it does apparently add a new Swype-esque input method dubbed Trace. Look for this one to be available sometime in November (in Germany, at least) for a rather hefty €429, or about $590.

[Thanks, Keith]

Samsung announces Bada-powered Wave II, not quite a whole new Wave originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Oct 2010 13:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>badasamsungsamsung wavesamsung wave IISamsungWaveSamsungWaveIitracewavewave 2wave IIWave2WaveIiMon, 04 Oct 2010 13:27:00 EST<![CDATA[Samsung Wave S8500 review]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/30/samsung-wave-s8500-review/http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/30/samsung-wave-s8500-review/http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/30/samsung-wave-s8500-review/#comments For some of us jaded and cynical gadget bloggers, getting a feature phone to review is somewhat painful. We grumble and roll our eyes, then put the box in a corner of the office for "later." See, feature phones are really just wannabe smartphones -- like a walled garden full of weeds and broken glass, most feature phones are crippled with restrictions and a crappy user experience. But somehow this time, when we finally opened the box, we discovered something different: a smartphone disguised as a feature phone. The Samsung Wave S8500 was announced with great fanfare at Mobile World Congress in February, and was (at the time) the first device to showcase the Bada mobile platform, the first to feature a Super AMOLED display, and the first to offer Bluetooth 3.0.

Let's dive in and take a look at what the Wave is all about -- and what it's not.

Gallery: Samsung Wave S8500 review

Continue reading Samsung Wave S8500 review

Samsung Wave S8500 review originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 30 Sep 2010 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>badamobilereviews8500samsungwaveThu, 30 Sep 2010 17:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Samsung Wave 723 flaunts Bada, little else at IFA]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/02/samsung-wave-723-flaunts-bada-little-else-at-ifa/http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/02/samsung-wave-723-flaunts-bada-little-else-at-ifa/http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/02/samsung-wave-723-flaunts-bada-little-else-at-ifa/#comments Samsung just grew its Bada line with a low-end foil to the original Wave, the so-called Wave 723 -- and we just happened to catch it hanging out tucked away in a distributor's booth at IFA this week. Though the leather-grain flip cover is a classy touch, make no mistake that this one is destined for the bottom bits of the full-touch featurephone market segment thanks to a middle-of-the-road TFT LCD that looks pretty washed out and low-res compared to the Wave's Super AMOLED (interestingly, the 723 is the first Bada phone to use version 1.1 of the platform, whose major addition is support for auto-scaling between multiple resolutions). We were also surprised at how poorly responsive the screen was to touches and swipes; we even thought for a moment that it might be resistive, but that doesn't seem to be the case. Then again, 802.11n support ain't bad, and Samsung certainly seems as committed to Bada as ever, so we imagine they'll sell a few. Hit up the gallery!

Gallery: Samsung Wave 723 flaunts Bada, little else at IFA

Samsung Wave 723 flaunts Bada, little else at IFA originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 18:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>723badabada osBadaOshands-onifaifa 2010Ifa2010samsungwavewave 723Wave723Thu, 02 Sep 2010 18:46:00 EST<![CDATA[Samsung Wave 723 announced, Bada keeps chugging]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/30/samsung-wave-723-announced-bada-keeps-chugging/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/30/samsung-wave-723-announced-bada-keeps-chugging/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/30/samsung-wave-723-announced-bada-keeps-chugging/#comments The original Samsung Wave -- which happens to be the first production Bada device -- sports some pretty awesome specs, which probably doesn't make much sense for a proprietary platform that walks a very fine line between the smartphone and feature phone labels, has an immeasurably small fraction of the market uptake Android has, and isn't available in any form in the US. To that end, Sammy's toning things down a bit for round two in the form of the oddly-named Wave 723, which eschews the original's Super AMOLED display for a 3.2-inch TFT LCD but still manages to squeeze in 802.11n plus a 5 megapixel AF cam with LED flash. The phone's based on Bada 1.1, which adds UI auto-scaling -- in other words, Samsung's prepping developers to make sure their bountiful Bada apps work seamlessly across devices of different resolutions. No word on pricing, dates, or regional availability at this point, but it's reasonable to say that it's devices like the 723 that'll make or break Bada in the long term. Why this thing isn't just an Android 2.2 phone with TouchWiz 3.0, though... well, only Samsung can answer that one, we suppose.

Gallery: Samsung Wave 723 announced, Bada keeps chugging

Continue reading Samsung Wave 723 announced, Bada keeps chugging

Samsung Wave 723 announced, Bada keeps chugging originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 Aug 2010 15:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>723badamobilesamsungwavewave 723Wave723Mon, 30 Aug 2010 15:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Samsung Bada SDK hits version 1.0; in other news, a tree falls and no one's around to hear it]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/27/samsung-bada-sdk-hits-version-1-0-in-other-news-a-tree-falls-a/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/27/samsung-bada-sdk-hits-version-1-0-in-other-news-a-tree-falls-a/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/27/samsung-bada-sdk-hits-version-1-0-in-other-news-a-tree-falls-a/#commentsIs anyone developing for Bada? Hello, anyone? Seems like all of the hotshot code monkeys out there are (or at least should be) working on bigger, hotter platforms -- some of which Samsung is fully supporting -- but be that as it may, Sammy has just gotten around to releasing the final 1.0 version of its Bada SDK for devs interested in trying their hand at busting out a Wave app or three. The full SDK package (which includes a number of languages, some of which you may not care to work on) measures over 1.3GB, so it's going to take some commitment, a fast connection, and a hard drive not filled to the brim with Android app projects to get it installed.

Samsung Bada SDK hits version 1.0; in other news, a tree falls and no one's around to hear it originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Aug 2010 18:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>badabada sdk 1.0BadaSdk1.0developerdevelopmentmobilesamsungsdkFri, 27 Aug 2010 18:20:00 EST<![CDATA[HTC Gold with Windows Phone 7 in November, and more from a rumored UK roadmap leak]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/06/htc-gold-with-windows-phone-7-in-november-and-more-from-rumor/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/06/htc-gold-with-windows-phone-7-in-november-and-more-from-rumor/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/06/htc-gold-with-windows-phone-7-in-november-and-more-from-rumor/#comments O, to see what Omio sees. The outlet has obtained what it claims to be "a huge UK mobile phone release schedule for the rest of the year... [from] all the manufacturers" (emphasis its own). So, from where would such an all-encompassing roadmap hail? We don't know, nor can we corroborate any of this, but the details are numerous so let's go through it -- albeit with cautious optimism and a few grains of salt. The biggest phone we can see of this baker's dozen of a lineup is the HTC Gold (sound familiar?), due in November and loaded with Microsoft's mobile OS newcomer Windows Phone 7. Unfortunately, that's all the information provided, but it's certainly enough to entice us. Also in November, we've got Samsung i8700 and Nokia E7 -- the latter being possibly a N8-esque QWERTY slider with AMOLED display and Symbian^3, and the former being a mystery (although Omio takes a gander that its aquatic Greek mythology might suggest a Bada-powered existence).

Going up the list Memento style, October purportedly brings across the pond-ers HTC Vision, the virtually unknown HTC Ace, Nokia N8, and Sony Ericsson's Xperia X8 and Yendo. September's a bit of a yawner -- SE Hazel and a Nokia X2 candybar -- as is August with the X6 8GB and BlackBerry Curve 9300. And July? Nokia E5-00, Sony Ericsson W20, and Samsung i5500. As is usually the case, the more you can wait, the better your options. Now, let's see if this supposed roadmap stays on course.

HTC Gold with Windows Phone 7 in November, and more from a rumored UK roadmap leak originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 06 Jul 2010 20:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>9300acebadabbblack berryBlackBerrycurvecurve 9300Curve9300e5e5 00e5-00E500e7goldhazelhtchtc acehtc goldhtc visionHtcAceHtcGoldHtcVisioni5500i8700leakleaksmicrosoftn8nokianokia e7nokia n8nokia x2nokia x6nokia x6 8gbNokiaE7NokiaN8NokiaX2NokiaX6NokiaX68gbresearch in motionResearchInMotionrimroad maproad mapsRoadMapRoadMapsrumorrumorssamsungsesony ericssonSonyEricssonsymbiansymbian 3symbian3visionw20wavewindows phonewindows phone 7WindowsPhoneWindowsPhone7wpwp 7Wp7x2x6x6 8gbX68gbx8xperiaxperia x8XperiaX8Tue, 06 Jul 2010 20:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Skyhook hones in on another partner, Samsung's Wave to geo-locate like no other]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/02/skyhook-hones-in-on-another-partner-samsungs-wave-to-geo-locat/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/02/skyhook-hones-in-on-another-partner-samsungs-wave-to-geo-locat/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/02/skyhook-hones-in-on-another-partner-samsungs-wave-to-geo-locat/#commentsSkyhook Wireless seems to have located itself yet another major partner in its continued quest to pinpoint every single cellphone owner in the world. Sure, we're exaggerating a bit just to get you riled up, but there's no arguing the fact that the company fulfills "hundreds of millions of location requests every day across over 100 million handsets, netbooks and cameras." Or so it says, anyway. The latest company to buy into Skyhook's geo-locating promise -- which uses a mysterious combination of GPS, cellular and WiFi data to get a darn good lock on your current position in most any environment -- is Samsung, with the Bada-equipped Wave (S8500) first to tout it. As time goes on, even more Sammy phones will utilize Skyhook's technology, though we're left to wonder what exactly those models will be. Anyone up for educated guessing?

Continue reading Skyhook hones in on another partner, Samsung's Wave to geo-locate like no other

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Skyhook hones in on another partner, Samsung's Wave to geo-locate like no other originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Jul 2010 19:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>badaCore LocationCoreLocationGeo-locationgpsindoor gpsindoor locationIndoorGpsIndoorLocationlocations8500samsungSamsung WaveSamsungWaveskyhooksmartphonewavewave s8500WaveS8500wirelessFri, 02 Jul 2010 19:41:00 EST<![CDATA[Samsung Wave shipping with infected microSD card (confirmed, limited to first run)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/02/samsung-wave-shipping-with-infected-microsd-card/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/02/samsung-wave-shipping-with-infected-microsd-card/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/02/samsung-wave-shipping-with-infected-microsd-card/#comments Did you get a Samsung Wave today, or perhaps early last week? You might not want to connect it to your computer, just in case. We're hearing anecdotal reports that the 1GB microSD card shipped with certain German units includes a nasty surprise: it automatically installs the trojan Win32/Heur using the file "slmvsrv.exe." While we're not sure exactly what the virus does or if it's widespread, there's no point in finding out the hard way, right? Install a good antivirus program and then format that sucker, or better yet, simply drop in a larger microSDHC card. Don't forget this thing plays DivX HD, people -- you're going to need more than a single gigabyte of storage.

Update: Samsung HQ got in touch with MobileBurn to confirm the existence of the virus in shipping S8500 Wave handsets, but said that the outbreak was confined to the German market's initial production run and all other shipments are A-OK. Still, there's no harm in disabling autorun before connecting one to your PC, eh?

Samsung Wave shipping with infected microSD card (confirmed, limited to first run) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 Jun 2010 07:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>badamicroSDmicroSD cardMicrosdCardrumors8500S8500 WaveS8500WaveSamsungSamsung BadaSamsung WaveSamsungBadaSamsungWaveslmvsrvslmvsrv.exeviruswaveWave s8500WaveS8500Win32heurWed, 02 Jun 2010 07:10:00 EST