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ITC rules that Samsung violates four Apple patents covering design, touch
The back and forth continues. US International Trade Commission Administrative Law Judge Thomas Pender has made an initial ruling that some Samsung's devices violate four Apple patents, including one iPhone design patent (the one you see above) and three software patents. Apple didn't manage a clean sweep, as Samsung was cleared of treading on two more patents, but the verdict still carries the all-too-familiar potential for a trade ban if the ITC maintains the findings in its final review. It's bleak news for the Korean company, which faced an initial loss to Apple at the ITC just last month -- even though large swaths of the mostly Android-based Galaxy phones and tablets in the dispute have long since left the market, an upheld verdict gives Samsung one less bargaining chip in a protracted legal war.
Samsung Omnia M with Windows Phone makes UK debut on August 1st, exclusively at Phones4U
We're well aware that a relatively large portion of the UK (and the world) is highly focused on this Olympic event at this very moment, though something tells us a few of you might take some time from the 2012 Games to properly welcome Samsung's Omnia M. The Mango-flavored device will be making its official debut across the pond in a couple of days, coming as an exclusive to the renowned Phones4U -- at least for the time being. As far as pricing goes, Sammy's 4-inch Windows Phone handset is set to be up for grabs for as much as £290 SIM-free or, if you're looking to go the monthly route, it'll be a freebie with a modest £20.50 plan. Best of all, Phones4U's taking orders right now, so anyone interested can pop one in at the source link below.
Samsung Omnia M revealed for Europe: 4-inch Super AMOLED and some software extras
More new Windows Phones, this time for the old continent. Instead of the Focus 2, Samsung announced that the Omnia M will take its place in Europe and it's looking an awful lot like its predecessor -- although we're a bit concerned the build quality may not match its older brother. With a 4-inch Super AMOLED display, and 1GHz processor, the Omnia M should be more than up to the task of dealing with Windows Phone, alongside some Samsung-specific software additions, including AllShare and its own cross-platform ChatON messenger app. A front-facing VGA camera will also link up with Samsung's own video-call features, while a 5-megapixel sensor is in charge of primary camera functions. The company says the phone will roll out to other regions following its European launch, although it's keeping quiet on whether a visit to the US is on the cards.
Samsung Omnia W slides through FCC with North American 3G support
The Omnia W isn't exactly a stranger among Julius Genachowski's minions, who first laid eyes upon the device back in October, but apparently, that first round of scrutiny just wasn't enough. That's right. The Omnia W is back, with one fundamental change: unlike the first handset (GT-I8350), which maxes out at EDGE connectivity on our domestic 1900 / 850MHz bands, the latest model (GT-I8350T) has piled on support for WCDMA and HSPA over the 850MHz spectrum. Given the similarity of AT&T's Focus Flash to the Omnia W, it seems terribly unlikely that this one is bound for the States -- which also suggests that this mid-sized Mango may have Canada squarely within its sights. With the utter absence of Windows Phone at Bell and Rogers, and merely the Optimus 7 at Telus, the arrival of some tropical fruit up north seems long overdue, indeed.
Samsung's Omnia W: Mango, 3.7-inch Super AMOLED, 1.4GHZ processor
Samsung just took the wraps off its Omnia W, which looks like a non-US variant of the Focus Flash we've already heard about via AT&T. The handset will debut in Italy and start spreading across the Old World and Latin America from next month. It'll sport Windows Phone 7.5 out of the box, a 3.7-inch 800x480 Super AMOLED display, 1.4GHz processor, VGA webcam on the front and rear 5MP shooter with 720p video recording. We expect it'll go head-to-head with HTC's 3.8-inch Radar when the War of the Mangoes finally kicks off. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in] %Gallery-134850%
Keepin' it real fake: Windows Phone 7 debuts in China
If smartphone platforms are legitimized by a KIRF manufacturer's tenacity to rip them off, then Windows Phone has truly arrived. Today we're looking at a larger than life "HTC"-branded knock-off of the Omnia 7, replete with an 800 x 480 4.8-inch (!) capacitive touchscreen and 1GHz Snapdragon processor. Given the massive size of this phone, there's plenty of room for features, which include Bluetooth, WiFi and GPS connectivity, along with a five megapixel camera, dual-SIMs and two microSD slots (for up to 32GB storage). Whew. Impressive specs aside, the device comes saddled with Windows Mobile 6.5 -- which has been heavily modified to resemble WP7's tile interface. There's no word yet on pricing -- just ask someone selling phones on a blanket the next time you're in Shenzhen, okay?
Microsoft pulls Windows Phone 7 update from Samsung phones until it can resolve issues
Such a big load of trouble for such a small update. Microsoft's first WP7 firmware refresh has been causing some unfortunate brick-like behavior in Samsung Omnia 7s and the company has wisely decided to pull the new software back until it can correct whatever's going wrong. An official communiqué to WinRumors says Microsoft has identified the issue at hand and is working to correct it and redistribute the update as soon as possible. For any Samsung WP7 phone owners who haven't been able to resuscitate their device yet, the advised course of action is to go back to the store and swap it for a livelier one. Update: Timo wrote in to let us know that some people are still seeing the update. If that's you, you'd be advised to hold off.
Samsung Omnia 7 review
We knew Samsung's been in the Windows Phone 7 game pretty much since day one, but the Korean giant's managed to keep its Europe-bound Omnia 7 under tight wraps until mid-summer this year. Two months onwards, we find ourselves cradling this macho-looking device, and giggly flicking through the various tiles in its newborn OS. Just to freshen up your memory, we're looking at a 4-inch Super AMOLED-donning slate, garnished with a dash of Tyrian purple aluminum on the back, and capped with some dark gray polycarbonate at the top and bottom. Well, you know the drill -- join us after the break to find out how the rest of this phone fares. This review is primarily of the Samsung Omnia 7 hardware. Check out our full review of Windows Phone 7 for our thoughts on the OS. %Gallery-105343%
HTC 7 Mozart and Samsung Omnia 7 on sale tomorrow at 7am on Orange UK
We knew Windows Phone 7 was scheduled to land first internationally, but it's always a treat to hear the particulars. Orange UK has just (re)revealed that it'll be the exclusive carrier of HTC's 7 Mozart across the pond, and it'll be joined by Samsung's Omnia 7 as both go on sale tomorrow morning in Orange's Oxford Street shop -- fittingly, at 7am local time. Naturally, the carrier is going to blow out the launch, with each customer buying a WP7 handset to receive a complimentary Bluetooth headset... while supplies last, anyway. You'll also get a stockpile of Orange applications and services (like it or not), and we're told that each phone will be offered for zilch with a fresh contract starting at £35 per month (7 Mozart) / £40 per month (Omnia 7). Jealous, North America?
Samsung Omnia 7 first hands-on (update: video!)
Samsung's Omnia 7, ladies and gents. Equipped with the only Super AMOLED display in Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 stable, the Omnia 7 provides suitably vibrant and richly saturated visuals. To be perfectly fair, we didn't note a major advantage in using its display relative to the other WP7 devices, but that's more a mark of distinction for the other phones on show today. The hardware really is looking polished to perfection on all these devices, and the Omnia 7 isn't really breaking with that trend, showing off a remarkably lightweight body that combines straight lines with a nicely curved back that sits well in the hand. The power/lock button is curiously positioned on the side of the device, but all points of input seemed to perform very nicely once you know where they are. The depressed Windows key is basically identical to the iPhone's, dare we say it, iconic home button. As to performance, we've nothing to say that we haven't said about the other WP7 launch devices, it's blindingly, ridiculously, delightfully quick. Update: Hey, who wants to see Engadget being pinch-to-zoomed on a 4-inch Super AMOLED screen? How about a quickie size comparison between the Omnia 7 and the iPhone 4? Both are in the video now available after the break.%Gallery-104793%
Samsung Omnia 7 brings 4-inch Super AMOLED screen to Windows Phone 7... a little early
Boy, there's hardly been enough time to catch our breath and analyze the first unintentionally official Windows Phone 7 handset in the form of LG's Optimus 7, yet Samsung is already joining the fray with its own Omnia 7. Currently populating its very own landing page on Samsung's Russian site, the Omnia 7 is a 4-inch Super AMOLED beastie with a rather aged 1GHz Qualcomm QSD8250 at its core, 8GB of storage, and a 5 megapixel cam that can do 720p video. Hit up the source link before somebody over in Moscow wakes up and realizes that Windows Phone 7 isn't meant to be launching for another few hours.
Windows Phone 7 slides into TV spot, Rachel Zoe's life
If you knew anything about The Rachel Zoe Project, you'd know that dear Rachel never, ever leaves home without her BlackBerry. Apparently, her comforting hubby -- known affectionately as Rodger Berman -- isn't going far without his unbranded Windows Phone 7 device (and a little help from Bing, naturally). Curiously enough, the date on the screen shows July, so there's a halfway decent chance the software they're playing with is of the pre-production variety... particularly since he's wielding a Samsung Omnia i9810-based prototype. Oh, and as you can see above, we're guessing he's relying on WiFi or some off-camera magic to actually pull anything up. Hard to get 3G in Los Angeles, especially when your phone is missing its SIM card. At any rate, the spot in full is embedded just past the break, and just between us, we get the feeling this is just the first of many more to come. [Thanks, Michael] %Gallery-102348%
Keepin' it real fake: phoney Armani handset borrows some of that Samsung glamor
When we reviewed the Samsung Omnia II, we forgot to mention one major drawback: the lack of Giorgio Armani branding. Luckily the KIRFmeisters of Shenzhen have picked up where the original manufacturer dropped the ball. And they threw in a QWERTY keyboard to boot! No word on price or availability of the KIRF Samsung Omnia Pro Giorgio, but that's probably for the best. And yes, it has dual SIM cards. [Thanks, Hiroshi] Update: Egads! We totally forgot about the actual Samsung Omnia Pro Giorgio! But let's be honest here -- it is highly forgettable.
Hands on with OmniGraffle for iPad
Long a Mac desktop staple, OmniGraffle for OS X offers an interactive editor for laying out charts and diagrams. It's a useful tool for planners, managers, and designers. I have not been a serious user of the product, nor do I own the latest OS X version, but I have used the software enough to recognize that it has made its own niche in the Mac ecosystem. The desktop versions I've used have been solid, robust and, most importantly, they've gotten the job done when the job is to lay out and edit organizational wiring diagrams. Hearing that OmniGraffle was coming to the iPad surprised me. It wasn't the kind of application that I'd expect to move smoothly to a touch based interface, given its reliance on a vast number of menus, palettes, and other tweaking elements that let you manipulate your creations just so. The Omni Group developers thought otherwise. They envisioned a "back of the napkin" style application that would let you create diagrams on the go, whether at a business meeting or sitting on an Airport shuttle. They created an iPad application that depended on fingers rather than mice or styluses, to allow users to create high-quality editable and manipulatable presentations. %Gallery-90847%
Samsung's Omnia II gets the video tear down you've all been longing for
Samsung's WinMo 6.5-packin' Omnia II has been available to Verizon Wireless customers (or at least those unaffected by the Droid) for a few weeks now, but strangely, we've yet to see a proper dissection of this here smartphone until today. That said, we're sure the patience you've put into this will pay off after heading past the break, where all of the itty-bitty internals are shown in stunning detail for your entertainment / education. As a good gal we once knew would say: "Ain't that the berries!" [Thanks, Costas]
Samsung Omnia II unboxing and hands-on
It's here at last, and we're frankly thrilled to be holding Samsung's very first TouchWiz 2.0 device, the Verizon Wireless-bound Samsung Omnia II. The 2.0 software brings with it a Widget Store, and as a general UI manages to skin over a majority of Windows Mobile 6.5, which is puttering along underneath. The handset is a tad on the bulky side, but makes up for it with a wonderful 3.7-inch AMOLED WVGA screen and a very nice 5 megapixel camera. We'll have a review for you before long, but for now you can check out a quick video rundown (including some playtime with the Samsung-exclusive "Swype" keyboard) after the break. And if that video is enough to convince you, the phone is available now on Verizon Wireless for $200 after rebate.
Samsung's Application Store scrambles to life for some Omnia i900 owners
If you have an Omnia i900 and you live in the UK, Italy, or France then listen up, Samsung's Application Store just went live. A quick .CAB file download installs the new Application Store client onto your WinMo handset. From there you have access to about 300 paid (payable by credit card, phone billing "coming soon") and free apps via WiFi or Cellular data connections. Samsung plans to have over "over 2,000" apps in the store by the end of 2009 with support added for the Omnia II I8000 and OmniaLITE B7300 from more than 30 countries planned on an indeterminate timeline. A quick glance through the top paid apps reveals the £3.50 Guitar Hero World Tour and free apps like Evernote and the Skyfire browser -- otherwise, the so-called "Hot" game-heavy, apps look pretty lackluster for the moment. It's also interesting (read: odd) that Skyfire is tagged with an "OS Cetified" (Samsung's misspelling) badge for Windows Mobile while the heavily promoted Guitar Hero remains badge-less. Ah well, it is launch day and we expect these things will get ironed-out soon enough. Pics and highly conceptualized App Store experience demonstration after the break. Read -- Press release Read -- Download
Samsung Omnia 2 pre-order page now live, tempting you with debt
Here's the good news: the unlocked version of Samsung's I8000 Omnia 2 is now available for pre-order on Amazon, sporting quad-band GSM and HSDPA 900 / 1900 / 2100. Soaked that in? Great, let's move on to the bad news: it's currently listed for $999.99. Ouch. At least it'll be subsidized when bought through a carrier (hear us, Verizon?). If this is on your must-have list regardless of costs, go ahead and reserve your copy -- no release date listed, so be prepared to endure. [Via Slashgear]
Samsung Application Store announced, the mobile mall gets a little more crowded
Oh, look, it's another place to buy bite-sized mobile apps, this one courtesy of Samsung. The company isn't exactly new to the whole application store thing, launching a little outlet for Nokia users earlier this year, but piggy-backing on someone else's platform and boldly blazing a trail of iFart knockoffs on your own hardware are two very different things. The imaginatively named Samsung Application Store launches on September 14 for British, French, and Italian Omnia and I8910 HD handsets, later coming to the Omnia II and OmniaLITE as well as users in various other nations. Samsung is pledging "over 300" apps to start, while partners like Electronic Arts, Capcom, Gameloft, and TAITO have signed on for the fun. Omnia BUST-A-MOVE, anyone?[Via NewsWire]
LG Chocolate Touch and Samsung Omnia 2 slated for August 23rd, according to supposed Best Buy leak
If this screen capture to be believed, August 23rd is gearing up to be one helluva day for phone lovers. According to this snapshot from Best Buy's computers, that's when LG's desirable BL40 Chocolate Touch will be making its way into the consumer world, alongside a red Xenon and a bevy of Samsung phones including Omnia 2, Rogue, and Solstice. No clue on what the Tour is doing up there dated for the 23rd, since it's already out on both Verizon and Sprint, but perhaps a major shipment is in the works. As for that M330 for September 8th? Yeah, we're not sure. Surrounding that tantalizing list from the top and bottom, respectively, are Samsung's eco-conscious Reclaim -- presumably listed for August 16th, although the date is obscured -- and a red and black "G2" from august 5th, which would undoubtedly be referring to T-Mobile's sophomore Android device, the myTouch 3G. Two weeks seem awfully close, but if this pans out, we certainly won't be arguing.
