Galaxy S
Latest
Samsung commits to September updates for Galaxy S GPS woes
AGPS capability on various versions of the Galaxy S -- including the Captivate and Vibrant released here in the US -- has been deeply hosed since launch, the apparent result of a bunk positioning server being used to associate towers to geographical locations. In practical terms, that's made apps like Google Maps nearly useless indoors and in urban canyons where line of sight to the birds up in orbit is dicey or impossible, and for European users where the phone's been out even longer, the wait's been an especially excruciating one. Fortunately, Samsung's finally come out with some concrete details on Twitter today, saying that updates are expected next month with "details and download to follow." No word for Euros specifically, but we imagine (er, make that "hope") they'll all be fixed around the same time.
Sprint's product development guru bolts from yellow pastures, heads to greener ones
Look out, Sprint -- if you aren't careful, you might just end up pulling a Palm. Shortly after Dan Schulman, Sprint's prepaid business honcho, announced that he'd be leaving The Now Network for a position at American Express, product development guru Kevin Packingham has announced that he'll be packing out on Monday. The 39-year old is responsible for spearheading some of Sprint's most highly sought after products, namely the HTC EVO 4G and Samsung Epic 4G. He'll be leaving his Senior VP office in order to "run another company in Kansas City," but Sprint's remaining mum on what exactly that company will be. For what it's worth, a spokeswoman for the carrier confessed to the Wall Street Journal that the departures aren't a concern, and that "Steve Elfman, president of Sprint's network operations and wholesale business, and Fared Adib, vice president of product development and Mr. Packingham's lieutenant, will share oversight of product development."
Epic 4G coming August 31st for $249.99 on contract (updated)
Like your Samsung Galaxy S with a slide-out QWERTY keyboard and a dash of WiMAX? Sprint's website has finally spilled the beans: the Epic 4G will arrive Tuesday, August 31st for $249.99 on contract (after $150 instant rebate and $100 mail-in rebate). Oddly enough, we've gotten a number of screencaps from readers who see an August 20th date, one that coincides with an upcoming Epic 4G promo we caught wind of, but the press release definitively lists the 31st. No way to pre-order at this point -- reservations begin Friday, according to the press release -- but feel free to sign up for reminders. Whew, glad that mystery's finally solved. PR after the break. Update: With Sprint now offering two Android-powered 4G smartphones, you're probably wondering, Epic 4G or EVO 4G? Fortunately, Sprint's got a video laying out the differences highlighting the Epic's Super AMOLED display, keyboard, Samsung Media Hub movie store (available post-launch), and DLNA to wirelessly send pics and video to other DLNA devices in the home. Check it out after the break. Update 2: Although reservations for in-store pickup aren't set to begin until tomorrow, we've been tipped on a reservation link intended for premier customers. [Thanks, Miguel] Update 3: You can also preorder at Radio Shack on August 13th -- with the purchase of a $50 gift card. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Samsung shows off line of Galaxy S accessories, uses Fascinate to model them
Now that Samsung's managed to deploy the Galaxy S far and wide across the globe (though we're still waiting for that Epic 4G and Fascinate, ahem), it's apparently high time for the company to start turning these bad boys into an ongoing revenue stream with a line of first-party accessories that should keep our pocketbooks empty for months to come. Pricing and carrier availability are still an open question, but all told, they're announcing a desktop dock that pairs with a dock-friendly app in the Market (pictured above), a windshield- and dashboard-mountable car dock, and a spare battery charging kit that includes a combo phone stand / battery charger, an extra wall charger, and the 1500mAh pack itself. You've also got a selection of protective cases and screen covers in your choice of regular, mirror finish, and privacy versions. If you bought everything, you'd probably come close to doubling your expense after having bought the Galaxy S itself, but accessorizing is all part of the fun, right? Interestingly, Samsung's shot of the car dock (above) seems to be the first official press picture of the Verizon Fascinate that we're aware of... so there you go. Follow the break for the full press release.
Samsung adds ISDB-Tb reception for Brazil's Galaxy S
By and large, mobile TV services across the globe have rallied around DVB-H, T-DMB, and ATSC Mobile, but a couple strange (and very important) bedfellows ended up going a different direction: Japan and Brazil, both of whom use variants of ISDB-T. In Japan, the service is more commonly known as one-seg, and Brazil's localized version goes by the rather unwieldy ISDB-Tb. Got that? Good -- because Samsung's prepping yet another flavor of its Android-powered Galaxy S for the local Brazilian market, and the addition of an integrated ISDB-Tb tuner should be just what the doctor ordered to take advantage of that lovely 4-inch Super AMOLED display. It's got Android 2.1 (though Froyo should be in the cards) and most of the other features you're already accustomed to from other Galaxy S launches; one notable exception, though, is the addition of mobile hotspot capability, something that normal comes stock in Android 2.2. It's coming in September, apparently for a whopping 2,399 reals which works out to something in the neighborhood of $1,367 -- fully unlocked, we hope.
Samsung Captivate coming to Rogers 'soon'
We'd figured the Captivate name was owned by AT&T, so color us surprised to see that the Galaxy S variant is finding its way to another carrier with the exact same branding and ID: Rogers up in Canada. Pricing and release date aren't being offered up yet, but Rogers says that "more details will be available in the coming weeks," so we're hoping (perhaps foolishly) that we can look forward to an August launch. More on this as soon as we have it.
Samsung Galaxy S coming in white?
It looks like Samsung might be getting ready to do something that Apple's having an awful time with: produce a white version of its latest, greatest smartphone. GSMArena happened across a tiny, blurry image of a particularly pale Galaxy S on the website of Spain's The Phone House -- a Carphone Warehouse company -- where it's identified as an exclusive. In our experience, full-touch handsets almost always look dashing in white, and we'd expect no different of the Super AMOLED-equipped Galaxy; unfortunately, there's no indication (yet, anyway) that this'll launch anywhere else. Anyone care to fly to Spain with €500 in hand? [Thanks, Blazeitup123]
Where's the GPS fix for the Samsung Vibrant and Captivate?
Though we admittedly missed it in our initial review -- this is the kind of thing you just expect to work -- we circled back and amended our look at Samsung's Captivate and Vibrant when we discovered that AGPS is completely busted. Not "sort of working," not "flawed," just utterly broken and non-functional; we waited minutes upon minutes without a location lock in our follow-up testing. AGPS is the kind of thing you don't miss until you don't have it, at which point you realize how woefully inadequate straight-up GPS alone is for mobile use when you're frequently (for some of us, nearly always) trying to locate yourself indoors, under a tree, or in the heart of an urban canyon. This isn't a low- or medium-priority fix -- this is something that Samsung, T-Mobile, and AT&T should've been working to get out immediately. Actually, let's step back a bit: this is a problem for which there's no reasonable explanation why it made it all the way to retail devices, and it raises concerns over just how well these products were tested (you might remember from our review just how many egregious examples of weird English we found, for instance). Put simply, all three of these companies should have these phones pulled from shelves until the problem's fixed, should be communicating tirelessly with customers and the press to make sure that everyone knows the status of the issue, and should have a fix available right this second. Android's ecosystem has proven just how important frequent, reliable firmware updates are, and Sammy's already working from a damaged reputation thanks to the Behold II debacle. Let's make this right, guys. [Thanks, Steve] Update: We've just received an official statement from Samsung on the matter: "Samsung Mobile is aware that under certain conditions, the GPS on our U.S. Galaxy S devices may not be meeting performance expectations. We are diligently evaluating the situation and will provide an update as soon as possible." Update 2: Several readers have pointed out that there are workarounds for the problem available -- we've got one linked in the More Coverage section below which points to an Android Central article. It's a good start, but not one that's practical for the average phone buyer, bearing in mind that most folks aren't power users (and, sadly, don't read Engadget Mobile). That still leaves the impetus on Samsung to get an official firmware update pushed out on the double.
Switched On: The Galaxy S paradox
Most high-profile smartphones launch exclusively on one of the major carriers in the U.S. The Samsung Galaxy S, though, will come to market via all of them under different names, different industrial designs, and, in one case, with different input options. And yet, its screen's quality and size – big but not too big – will certainly make it a contender at all of them. But the handset will encounter anything but a level playing field in its respective portfolios. The Galaxy S will provide a good lab in which to study how much motivation to push a high-end portfolio device counts versus the muscle of having the largest subscriber bases but stronger handset competition. With the Galaxy S's lack of exclusivity already dampening some carrier enthusiasm for promoting it heavily, it appears as though the handset's impact goes down as the number of carrier subscribers goes up. Let's look at the universe of Galaxy S distribution.
Samsung confirms Galaxy S will get Froyo in September
Wondering when the Galaxy S will be getting its own cup full of Froyo, the 2.2 build that every Google handset is screaming for? Samsung promised that an update would be coming not long after release, and now courtesy of the company's official UK Twitter feed we know it's due in September. At least, Samsung is saying it's coming in September. That company has shattered our little hearts before with its broken promises, and we'd sure hate to see it happen again.
Bell's Galaxy S gets front-facing camera, rumored August 6 launch date
It's a crying shame that the American flavors of Samsung's otherwise stunning Galaxy S lack a front facing camera, but even those camped out in the Great White North should know that the European versions (i9000) do have such a feature. Lucky for them, Bell's Galaxy S Vibrant will also have a camera mounted on the front, enabling video chats with a lot less hassle. Oh, and if you're wondering exactly when you'll be able to grab hold of one and brag to your friends down south, a contest from Bell is providing reason to believe that August 6th is the day to watch. Furthermore, the fine print makes mention of a CAD$599 retail value, so we're guessing that you may be able to pick up an off-contract Vibrant for that very price. Fingers crossed, right? [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Samsung TV schedule points to Epic 4G in August?
On August 20th, at 4:30PM Eastern Standard Time, Samsung will show off the Epic 4G smartphone on their television support website. Why is this of interest to you? Simply because the last two times the company did such a thing -- for the Vibrant and Captivate, respectively -- these infomercials all but coincided with the phones' planned release date. We wouldn't go around making any wagers if we were you, but if someone asks you when we might see a Galaxy S with a physical keyboard, you'll be able to make a ballpark estimate instead of pulling numbers out of your hat. Don't know what we're on about? Read our full preview of the Hummingbird-laden device. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Samsung dispatching free Galaxy S handsets to iPhone 4 whiners on Twitter?
Well this is one lucky Tiffany here, but she's not alone. Wired UK was first to report that Samsung's been quietly dishing out free Galaxy S handsets (the European flavor) to a few lucky British Twitter users. How so? Oh, four of them just made a fuss about their iPhone 4s, and the fifth guy needed help to choose between the Desire, iPhone 4 and Galaxy S. Before you all start tweeting your way to a free Android phone, though, it looks like the Korean giant's only picking certain influencers for some cheap publicity -- turns out our Tiffany here works in Digital Marketing for Condé Nast, which is coincidentally Wired's parent company. Tut tut tut. The other tweeples all appear to be similarly involved in marketing or publishing, with the exception of one student. As if it hasn't already rubbed enough salt into Apple's wound, Samsung UK's also running new Galaxy S ads that take an indirect shot at the iPhone 4's antenna controversy with a clever bit of typography -- you can see the dirty work after the break. Very nice, Sammy, but you better be careful playing with fire here, as we've found it pretty easy to death grip Galaxy S phones like the Captivate into losing a fair bit of signal. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Samsung Galaxy S review shootout: Captivate for AT&T and Vibrant for T-Mobile
We've got to hand it to Samsung with its Galaxy S line. Coordinating the launch of a single family of devices across all four national US carriers (plus a regional or two) is a feat very rarely accomplished, and usually reserved for really unique handsets that those carriers wouldn't be able to effectively source from anyone else; HTC's Touch Pro2 is a prime example of that. Add to that the murky issue of exclusivity periods... and, well, yeah, Samsung definitely has reason to be proud here -- on the business end of things, anyway. Never mind the awesome contractual maneuvering that undoubtedly took place to make this all happen, though -- we all know that it's the hardware (and software) that really counts. Today we're looking at the first two models of the American run, the Captivate for AT&T and the Vibrant for T-Mobile; Verizon's Fascinate and Sprint's QWERTY- and WiMAX-equipped Epic 4G are still forthcoming, though we expect the Fascinate to be largely similar to these first two. Beyond their simple appeal as sexy, high-end Android phones, what makes the Captivate and Vibrant especially interesting is that they are actually their respective carriers' only high-end Android phones at the moment. In other words: if 1GHz processors and high-res AMOLED displays are how you roll, these are basically the only game in town if you're on AT&T or T-Mobile -- particularly now that Nexus One sales are winding down. Do they rise to the challenge? Let's have a look.%Gallery-98007%
Samsung Captivate now shipping from AT&T, right on cue
Sure, the Samsung Vibrant came out three days earlier, but you don't care if T-Mobile customers beat you to the Galaxy S punch -- you're on AT&T, and it's about time you had (another) high-end Android smartphone to call your own. Our recent hands-on showed it was a bit sluggish, so you might want to wait for our full review, but if your heart's set on that 4-inch Super AMOLED screen and 1GHz Hummingbird core, you're only two clicks away from adding the Android 2.1 handset to your virtual shopping cart. Click one is our source link, immediately below. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Apple's Steve Jobs: 'no one's going to buy' a big phone
In response to a question at its press conference today about whether Apple could've done anything to avoid its antenna issues with the iPhone 4, Steve took the opportunity to rip on bigger rivals, saying that making a phone so big "you can't get your hand around it" helps, but that "no one's going to buy that." We're assuming he's likely talking about the latest crop of 4-, 4.3- and 5-inch phones that include the Galaxy S series, the EVO 4G, Droid X, and Dell Streak, even going so far as to call them "Hummers" (we take it you don't ever drive a Hummer, Steve?). Though ripping on the competition is to be expected, perhaps the more interesting takeaway here is that we can't realistically expect an iPhone much bigger than the 3.5-inch display they use today -- presumably that'll all be reserved for iPad territory going forward. We personally don't mind something with a little more screen real estate -- but hey, maybe humans need to go through a few more cycles of evolutionary hand enlargement before Cupertino's willing to capitulate.
AT&T execs get a better Captivate unboxing experience than you do
We don't know how often this happens, but it seems that AT&T brass are being provided with these ridiculously over-the-top packages for the Samsung Captivate that's officially launching this weekend, including bundled accessories that us unwashed masses aren't offered. As they say, membership has its privileges. [Thanks, anonymous tipster]%Gallery-97622%
Samsung Vibrant launching today, awaits new owners in T-Mobile's online store
A tiny bit of uncertainty has been cleared away thanks to good old Twitter, where T-Mobile has made July 15 (aka, today!) the official launch date for its Galaxy S derivative, the Vibrant. The original Tweet seems to have disappeared into the ether apart from that screenshot above, but T-Mo has reiterated the statement in subsequent missives, telling its followers that the Vibrant will be on sale today. We imagine the typical $199.99 price point will remain unaltered, so all you'll really need to do now is decide whether this is the Super AMOLED handset for you, or whether you can wait the extra few days until Sprint et al intro their offerings. Decisions, decisions. [Thanks, Alex] Update: And it's now available to buy directly from T-Mobile's online store [Thanks, Volaris].
'Road SMS' encourages you to text while walking
We haven't actually seen it for ourselves, but we're hearing the Samsung Galaxy S can download an interesting little app. Called Road SMS, the basic idea is that the phone's camera constantly runs to let you see through the screen, while a virtual keyboard allows your fingers to safely text whomever you want. Needless to say, it's a very bad idea for number of reasons -- not least of which the fact that thumbs will always obscure the screen -- but we'll leave discussion of the pros and cons for the comments below. To be frank, we don't think folks will use this app seriously. We're just hoping someone will develop an augmented reality joke version that, ever so often, generates ghostly images of high speed oncoming traffic. And remember kids, don't text and drive.
Root already working on Samsung Captivate, other US Galaxy S models
Normally, you've got to wait... you know, at least a few hours after a new Android phone's released for a root technique to pop up -- but thanks to the Captivate's lineage, hackers have already been able to get the ball rolling. Indeed, it turns out that the root method already employed on the European version of the Galaxy S works just fine on the Captivate and Vibrant, and presumably, it'll work just the same on Fascinate and Epic 4G with a minimum of modification. Reports are already trickling in that Market apps requiring root are working like champs, so we're feeling good about this one. [Thanks, Andrew]
