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Samsung Galaxy Tab review
The story of the Galaxy Tab has been quite a saga, to say the least. In fact, it was actually back in May that we first heard rumblings of Samsung's plans to unleash a 7-inch Android tablet much like its Galaxy S phones, but it was only after months of painful teasing -- including a cruel look at just its packaging on the Engadget Show -- that Sammy finally unveiled the Galaxy Tab to the world at IFA. The Tab certainly packed the specs -- a 1GHz processor, full Flash support thanks to Android 2.2, dual cameras, support for up to 32GB of storage and WiFi / 3G connectivity -- to put other Android tablets to shame, and our initial hands-on with it only had us yearning for more. Without pricing and availability, however, the story was at a cliffhanger. Of course, those details trickled out over the next few months, and here in the US, Samsung finally announced that all four major US carriers would be getting Tabs to call their own. Verizon then finally took the lead in announcing pricing, and revealed that its Tab would hit contract-free for $600 -- Sprint followed with the same no-contract pricing along with a $400 two-year contract option.Indeed, it's been quite a long journey, but even after all of that, some of the major questions are still left unanswered. Does the Tab provide a more complete and polished experience than all the other Android tablets out there? How are Samsung's specially tailored apps? And ultimately, has a tablet finally hit the market that can rival Apple's iPad? We think it's about time we answer those questions and finally open what might be the most important chapter of the Galaxy Tab story -- the official Engadget review. We knew you'd agree, so join us after the break.%Gallery-106330%
Samsung notches record profits, aims to sell ten million Galaxy S phones this year
My, how a year changes things. Q3 2009 was a nightmare for mega-corps in terms of earnings, but things have definitely been on the up and up just 12 months later. After Sony pushed out a glowing quarterly report this morning, rival Samsung has done likewise. The company saw record breaking revenues of ₩40.23 trillion ($35.8 billion) as well as profits (₩4.46 trillion; $3.96 billion) in this most recent quarter, with Sammy crediting strong semiconductor performance for the bulk of its newfound fortune. A tip of the hat was also given to its mobile communications business, with the outfit moving a staggering 71.4 million phones during Q3 2010 (a 19 percent boost year-over-year). Reports are noting that between five and seven million of those were of the Galaxy S variety, and it's hoping to sell ten million of 'em before the close of this year. All that said, the firm isn't expecting an equally rosy Q4, noting that a strengthening won and heightened price pressures around LCD panels and DRAM could put a damper on skyrocketing profits. So much for taking a day to celebrate, eh? [Thanks, Rajendra]
Samsung comes clean with Galaxy S Froyo upgrade dates: all carriers in November
The Android 2.2 upgrade situation on the Galaxy S has been a veritable rollercoaster of emotions for owners recently, owing in no small part to the seemingly final firmwares that have been briefly posted and pulled from the company's servers in parts of the world over the past couple weeks. Nordic countries have already sample the goods, but Sammy says that a "new" firmware update will be available in early November in the UK and should hit "all operator versions" of the phone (presumably including the Vibrant, Captivate, Epic 4G, and Fascinate) by the end of November. YouMobile is reporting that existing regional updates have been pulled due to general not-awesomeness, so hopefully they'll have a chance to get it right over the next couple weeks before it starts hitting again. Follow the break for Samsung's press release.
Samsung Wave II has its Super Clear LCD tested against Galaxy S Super AMOLED display
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]
Galaxy S Android 2.2 Froyo update begins to trickle out (update: official)
Based on breathless reports we're seeing on Twitter and in the XDA-Developers' forums, it would appear that Samsung has just pushed out the official Android 2.2 Froyo update for its Galaxy S as promised. Our Nordic friends are the first to report seeing the build I9000 JPM update in the latest version of Samsung's Kies PC software. It's early days though, so do let your fellow i9000 owners know how it goes in the comments below. List of changes (including GPS fix) listed after the break. Update: We've just been handed the official press release for the Android 2.2 Galaxy S update. Indeed, Nordic countries get it first (starting mid-October, aka, "now") before it's "gradually rolled out to other European markets, Southeast Asia, the Middle East Asia, North America, Africa and rest of the world." Hey, it takes time to update 5 million handsets. [Thanks, Gustav F. and Chong Shau Poh]
Samsung rolls out JI6 update to fix Vibrant GPS issues
It's a tad later than initially promised, but it looks like Vibrant users frustrated by those serious GPS issues will soon have a fix -- Samsung has just announced that it's begun rolling out the JI6 over-the-air update to remedy the problem and finally bring it in line with the Captivate. No word on what else the update might include and, as with all OTA updates, there's also no guarantee as to exactly when you'll get it, with Samsung only saying that it will be distributed randomly over the next "several weeks." [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Samsung Galaxy S meets US Cellular: Mesmerize coming on October 27 for $200
Samsung had promised a US Cellular-branded version of its wildly ubiquitous Galaxy S line... and here it is. The so-called Mesmerize name fits in appropriately with some of its contemporaries -- Vibrant, Fascinate, Captivate -- and looks very much the same, too, featuring the usual 4-inch Super AMOLED display, 5 megapixel camera with 720p capture, 1GHz Hummingbird processor, and both WiFi and Bluetooth 3.0. Unfortunately, it'll be launching with Android 2.1, it seems, but a Froyo update is promised for "later this year." Look for it in stores on October 27 for $199 after an $80 mail-in rebate, followed by a couple other Android devices -- the LG Apex and Optimus -- in November and December, respectively. Follow the break for USCC's press release.
Samsung Galaxy S sales surpass five million, world domination plans still on track
Believe it or not, Samsung is only now getting around to introducing its Galaxy S handset to the fine isle of Japan. Its announcement of a late October availability for the home of CEATEC was also accompanied by the little note that the rest of the world has already bought up five million units of its multivariate Galaxy S phone family. More than two million of those sales have been notched up in the US and over one million can be found in Samsung's home field of South Korea. Or could be found if they actually had working GPS units. Zing! [Thanks, Matt]
HTC HD7 leaks out once more with Dolby Sound, stars in a brief video
HTC may have stemmed the flood of HD7 activity, but details about the 4.3-inch Windows Phone 7 device keep leaking out. Today, an O2 Germany tipster blew off most of the remaining doors. We've got what appears to be a full spec sheet confirming a 1GHz processor, 8GB of storage and 5 megapixel camera but also detailing internal memory, a full complement of sensors, quad-band radio frequencies, 802.11 b/g/n WiFi and more. There's also a few pictures sizing up the HD7 alongside a Galaxy S, a training slide for the hopefully-more-than-a-marketing-buzzword "Dolby Mobile Sound," and for what we believe is the very first time, a cameo appearance on video. Our tipster says it'll launch in Germany in just two weeks at €559 (about $770) or €79 ($109) on a two-year contract. Tempting, no? Video after the break. %Gallery-104129%
Samsung Captivate gets unofficial Froyo build, with Flash 10.1, mobile hotspot and more (video)
Now that your AT&T-locked Samsung Galaxy S can occasionally find satellites, you're probably hoping that the carrier kicks out some creamy Froyo as well, and it looks like that day isn't far away -- an unofficial but seemingly feature-complete Android 2.2 build is available for the Captivate right now. The faithful fiends at xda-developers have got build UCJI6 ready for download, which brings a mobile hotspot, Adobe Flash Player 10.1, the JIT compiler, Media Hub support, and a host of UI tweaks to boot. Instructions are available at the links below to walk you through the process, assuming you've already got root, have backed up all your files and are willing to take the risks in case this leaked build isn't as official as it seems. See a video walkthrough of the new software right after the break. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Sprint Epic 4G update delayed by 'administrative issues,' consumer rage released on schedule
And this, folks, is a lesson of what not to do if you're a major carrier with a majorly perturbed user base. In a way, this sort of feels like the Instinct update debacle all over again, with users claiming that a promised software update was being held beyond the 30 day return window in order to keep contracts alive. 24 hours after a Sprint forum administrator proudly proclaimed that a long-awaited Epic 4G software update was rolling out over the next few days, another admin has chimed in with a nearly-audible "sike!" Rather than letting users cheer its hard work over the weekend, Epic 4G owners are now being told that "administrative issues" are to blame for a new delay -- a delay that'll stretch on for an undetermined amount of time, to boot. Oh, and back on the topic of what not to do, the operator's forum admin has also thrown a jab at all of you out there that would even think of accusing Sprint of pushing this update beyond the 30 day return window. Look, we all know it's a baseless conspiracy theory, but there's really no need to get feisty, is there? Full announcement is after the break. Update: Looks as if the update is out there if you're brave enough to do it yourself. But honestly, is it worth it? Probably. [Thanks, Edward]
Latest smartphone displays pitted in no-holds-barred deathmatch
If you're a numbers geek, you're trying to be scientific about your next smartphone purchase, or you just like pretty colors, you might appreciate DisplayMate's latest report rounding up examples of all (well, most) of the latest and greatest display technologies out there: IPS LCD, Super AMOLED, AMOLED, and TFT, represented by the iPhone 4 and Droid, the Galaxy S, the Nexus One, and the iPhone 3GS, respectively. Noticeably missing is SLCD, the technology HTC has been using to make up for lost ground on its AMOLED shortage from component supplier Samsung, but we've got a hunch DisplayMate's hard at work at adding that into the mix. Anyhow, considering the sheer number of variables the firm takes into consideration -- everything from color depth, to brightness, to reflectance, to color gamut -- there's no clear-cut winner, but the Droid and iPhone 4 are obviously a cut above the rest with generally higher scores and better performance across the board. The Galaxy S' Super AMOLED turns in a decent performance, too, but takes a little hit for its 16-bit color depth and blown-out colors. Of course, if you consider any of these -- even the crappy TFT on the 3GS -- to a phone from five years ago, it still looks like science fiction... so you really can't go wrong, can you?
Sprint Epic 4G update now rolling out, promises 'increased 3G upload speeds'
Sprint said it was coming, and lo and behold, the carrier has proven to be true to its word. Here on the final day of September, the year 2010, Sprint has issued a highly anticipated firmware update for the Epic 4G. We're told that it'll be pushed automatically to phones, bringing along four major fixes: WiFi standby battery drain, Amazon MP3 cannot download in 4G, large emails lag in upload speeds and increased 3G upload speeds. The new version is S:D700.0.5S.DI18, should take seven or eight minutes to download and will be beamed across The Now Network over the course of the next few days. Is that a congregation celebrating off in the middle distance? Sure is.
Exclusive: Samsung Continuum for Verizon has double the displays, double the fun
The Fascinate's ride at the top of Sammy's Android lineup for Big Red might be a short one -- a very short one. Feast your eyes on this monster, said to be the rumored SCH-i400 Continuum, whose biggest claim to fame would be the addition of a secondary OLED display below the main. What might you use it for? Well, it's called the "Ticker," and it'll show notifications and RSS updates (and judging from that picture, weather conditions, too). Naturally, one of the selling points is that you can access basic phone functionality and information without having to fiddle with the normal UI or turn on that big, power-sapping primary display; in fact, the Ticker will automatically turn on when you grasp the bottom of the phone. The Continuum's also got a microSD slot on the side (accessible without a battery pull) and a dedicated camera button, and judging from one of the shots we've got, it might be Galaxy S-branded. Follow the break for a couple more shots!
Samsung Transform pictured in Sprint document, alongside Kyocera... err, Sanyo Zio?
Well, dear reader, we've got a pair of minor revelations for you, assuming this picture is real. First, that mid-range Android slatephone the Kyocera Zio is headed to Sprint, with the familiar Sanyo branding. Second, and perhaps more importantly, the elusive Samsung Transform has finally shown its face. Since that mug looks just like the Epic 4G, however, you can color us a bit confused -- Sprint's the only carrier without a keyboard-less Galaxy S, so that might make sense, but then why would they call it the Transform? As far as we can tell, it hasn't been tested for WiMAX, so perhaps it's an Epic without the 4G, plus a new form factor of some sort? Odds are we'll find out soon, given the company it's keeping: that BlackBerry Curve 3G 9330 got shipped off to Sprint just this last week.
Epic 4G: problems so far -- and a few solutions
Since the Epic 4G launched on Sprint August 31, we've been receiving notes from owners on various issues they've experienced with the phone. We've heard about and experienced problems with the supposedly-fixed GPS, to surprisingly slow 3G uploads (fix on the way), to odd issues with battery drain and glitchy market install problems. Now that we're facing the end of Sprint's 30-day return period, we're wondering if Sprint and Samsung have shown enough of a commitment to resolving any problems to keep owners and potential buyers hanging on. Check after the break for a few of the issues we've found and what can be done about them, and let us know in our poll how optimistic you are about the future of this otherwise well-received device.
Sprint Epic 4G update coming tomorrow, should fix 3G upload issues
So, you aren't crazy after all. Feels good, right? After nearly a month of bickering from Epic 4G owners, a Sprint forum administrator has finally come forward with glowing news about this so-called 3G upload issue: a fix is coming, and soon. If you missed out on the story, users were finding that their 3G uploads were being capped at around 150kbps, and a ginormous thread over at the carrier's message board has grown as the problem has persisted. Just today, though, one dshoem01 has provided the following snippet: "Good news - an update will be released tomorrow 9/30. It will be rolled out over a 4 day period so not everyone will get it on day 1. I will have the standard MR information (fixes included, rollout schedule, etc) available tomorrow morning and will post it in a new featured thread." Note that this doesn't specifically say that the 3G caps will be fixed here, but why else post this newsflash in the very thread that surrounds the issue? Rest assured, our fingers are firmly crossed. [Thanks, Bradley]
Rogers delays BlackBerry Torch, Samsung Captivate (but not by much)
We've got a two-pack of bad news for Rogers customers today (at least, it's bad news if you were planning on upgrading your phone in the next few days). Both the BlackBerry Torch and Samsung's Galaxy S-based Captivate have been delayed for you guys, though the Torch will be coming around in just a few days' time -- September 30, to be exact -- while the Captivate's fighting a "manufacturing delay" and isn't expected now until mid-October. Interestingly, the Captivate seems to be in ample supply for AT&T, so... you know what kinds of subscribers to fight if you see them wandering around today, Canadians. [Thanks, Rick]
Samsung Captivate gets GPS fix, other Galaxy S versions wait patiently
Sammy just hit us up with a brief statement that should make Captivate owners jump clean out of their seats and do a spit take if they're enjoying a cup of joe: "An update to improve the Samsung Captivate's GPS performance is now available. Captivate customers will receive a notification on their device that an update is available and will simply need to download the file to update their phone. The updates will be pushed to customers' devices over the next few weeks. The update for the Captivate will also improve additional device functions, such as media scanning time, add the full version of Quickoffice and address Microsoft Exchange 2003 policy support." Awesome, right? Of course, the proof is in the pudding -- we'll need to wait and see how "fixed" the GPS really is after this gets installed, but it's a start. Notably, this doesn't seem to include Froyo, so we don't know whether these guys are going to be going the British or Spanish routes in getting that deployed. Update: We've independently confirmed with AT&T that this update does include GPS improvements.
Samsung Galaxy S meets Froyo by month's end for T-Mobile UK customers
Android phones and their eternal struggle to get the latest version update, it's a book that needs to be written. It was only last night that we were hearing that the Froyo upgrade for Spanish Galaxy S users would be pushed back till late October, yet today our emotions are swung back the other way by news of T-Mobile UK promising the exact same update by the end of this month. If our solar calendars are accurate, that means there'll be no more than a 10-day wait left for T-Mo customers using this 4-incher. We'll bug the other UK networks as well to see whether their 2.2 updates are in the mail or still lost somewhere in the frozen isle. Update: Here's O2's current position: "We're working with Samsung to bring the latest version of Android, 2.2 FroYo, to our Samsung Galaxy S customers as soon as possible. This will take a period of several weeks and we will update our customers once the new software is available."
