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Galaxy S Gingerbread update now rolling out across Europe
Samsung said its Android 2.3 update for the Galaxy S would come in mid-April and, by golly, it meant it literally. Sometime during the night between the 15th and 16th days of this month, the Korean manufacturer's Kies servers started serving up a fresh portion of Gingerbread to Galaxy S owners in parts of Europe, and now reports are coming in of users successfully updating their Hummingbird-equipped handsets. It's a limited rollout, benefiting the Nordic countries, Holland and Germany first, but we doubt Samsung will hold out on the rest of Europe for much longer. If you want to try your luck, boot up your Kies updating utility and pray to your nearest tech deity. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in] Update: Vodafone UK is now dishing out this update to its Galaxy S owners as well.
Evidence mounts for near-term Gingerbread release on Galaxy S
Gossip is like a wildfire, and we feel its warmth so often that it's easy to disregard. But, when it comes to the Galaxy S getting bumped up to Android 2.3 soon, the heat of this particular inferno is almost impossible to ignore. Word on the interwebs is that Samsung posted a page proclaiming the availability of said upgrade -- only to take it down a few hours later. That's obviously long gone, but now we're also seeing a rather conspicuously labeled official user manual on the company's support site. Add these to Samsung Finland informing us we can expect the update mid-month, and all the pieces of the puzzle are starting to fall into place. Looks like this batch of Gingerbread is almost ready to come out of the oven. [Thanks, S.H. and jonjon]
Gingerbread update for Samsung Galaxy S to start rolling out in mid-April
Official word from Samsung's Finnish site informs us that local owners of its Galaxy S smartphone will be receiving their Gingerbread fix around the middle of this month. Less direct, but still pretty reliable, confirmation of this comes from UK carrier Three, who promises the same OS version will be arriving to its users of the handset "in a couple of weeks." Considering an Android 2.3.2 build for the Galaxy S already leaked out way back in February, few should be surprised at the timing of this release, but prior experience still urges us to be wary when it comes to Samsung and its software update schedules. [Thanks, Juho]
Samsung Galaxy S getting a 1.4GHz '2011 edition' next month (update: confirmed)
You didn't think Samsung was going to leave the classic Galaxy S handset in the past, did you? Dmitriy Ryabinin of hi-tech.mail.ru has tracked down the above comparison sheet showing off a new variant of the 4-inch Android phone, this time packing a 1.4GHz Qualcomm MSM8255T chip and a 14.4Mbps HSPA+ radio. Other than those upgrades and a 1650mAh battery, it's a faithful reproduction of last year's original and should be arriving in Russia around the end of April for a price of just under 24,000 rubles ($846). What gives us faith in this apparent leak is our earlier sighting of a 3.7-inch Galaxy S2 "Mini" device from Samsung, which also clocks in at a mighty 1.4GHz. Coincidence? We doubt it. [Thanks, Andy] Update: That was quick. Samsung's Russian mouthpiece has confirmed all of the above, adding note of a metal back cover and a Galaxy S Plus name for markets outside of Russia. Sadly, there's no word as to where else it might be showing up.
Samsung Wave hacked to boot Froyo instead of Bada (video)
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]
'Hummer' handsets now account for 24 percent of US smartphone sales, prove Steve Jobs wrong
Remember when Steve Jobs had a dig at Apple's mobile competition and proclaimed that "no one" would buy their Hummer-like 4-inch-plus smartphones? Well, going by the latest NPD data, that group of "no ones" among US smartphone consumers is now a meaty 24 percent. Separating handsets into screen categories of 3.4 inches and below, 3.5 to 3.9 inches, and those above 4 inches, the stat mavens discovered that the midrange is holding steady, but smaller-screened devices are starting to lose out to their jumbo-sized brethren. No prizes for guessing that Android-powered devices were behind that big sales increase, with the HTC EVO 4G and Motorola Droid X leading the way, followed by Samsung's multivariate Galaxy S range. Now, care to tell us more about our mobile future, Steve? [Thanks, Skylar] Disclaimer: NPD's Ross Rubin is a contributor to Engadget.
Samsung Galaxy S 4G review
It's only been six months since Samsung launched its highly successful Galaxy S assault upon the US market with a series of carrier customized phones: the Vibrant and Captivate GSM twins for T-Mobile and AT&T, the WiMAX-rocking Epic 4G for Sprint and the Fascinate for Verizon. More derivatives arrived later, with the Mesmerize, Continuum, Nexus S, and LTE-equipped Galaxy Indulge. Still the Vibrant was the first, and the closest in appearance to the original Galaxy S, losing the front-facing camera, but gaining a search button. Unfortunately, Samsung was slow to upgrade early devices like the Vibrant beyond Eclair, and to fix the well-documented AGPS problems. As such, the release of the Samsung Galaxy S 4G for T-Mobile -- basically an updated Vibrant with HSPA+, a front-facing camera, a bronze battery cover, Froyo out of the gate, but no dedicated internal flash storage -- is bittersweet. While beneficial to those who waited, it's a slap in the face to those who purchased the Vibrant. But is it a worthy upgrade? How does it fit into T-Mobile's high-end Android lineup? Read on for our full review after the break. %Gallery-118786%
Samsung Galaxy S 4G now available from T-Mobile
Samsung's Galaxy S 4G might not have the very latest version of Android or too much hardware differentiation from the original T-Mobile Vibrant, but hey, it brings a front-facing camera and HSPA+ connectivity, so of course it costs $200. T-Mobile will have disappointed many with its clarification that the Galaxy S 4G will cost a pair of Benjamins on contract, exactly as much as its Samsung-built predecessor did seven months ago, and not as the carrier had originally indicated, $150. Also similar is the fact that T-Mo is launching this phone with an Android build that's one iteration behind the cutting edge, meaning the Froyo update headaches of last autumn may return in the form of Gingerbread jitters this spring. All the same, if the Magenta team sees fit to chop the Galaxy S 4G's price the same way it's been doing with its other Android handsets, we could be in for a fine bargain in the near future. [Thanks, Matt]
Visualized: Giorgio Armani Galaxy S
In front of the sculpted jaw and haunting eyes of this ridiculously-good-looking man, there is a phone. And it says: "Thanks for the cash, sucker."
Samsung says it isn't charging carriers for Android updates, promises Galaxy S status report
Buying a Samsung Galaxy S sounded like a fantastic decision when Android 2.1 was hot stuff, but now that Gingerbread's out of the oven, Fascinate, Captivate, Vibrant and Epic 4G owners are starting to get a little tired of being stuck behind the curve. And while we can think of at least one fairly nasty reason why Samsung might be delaying, we've been hearing all sorts of conspiracy theories, ranging from holding back Froyo to sell more dedicated Gingerbread phones to making the cellular carriers foot the bill for Android updates for every handset sold or else not get the update at all. Well, it seems that last rumor's gained a little traction, because Samsung's taken it upon itself to squash the story flat. The company gave Phone Scoop the following statement: "No. Samsung is not charging carriers for Froyo updates to Galaxy S. We hope to have more detail on status shortly. Promise!" At this rate, we're wondering if Samsung should just skip Froyo and just start rolling out some Gingerbread men instead.
Samsung reaches goal: 10 million Galaxy S phones sold worldwide
Can't say we're surprised -- after all, last time we checked in the tally was hovering around 9.3 million -- but now Samsung has officially met its goal of 10 million Galaxy S phones sold around the globe. That's less than seven months since the device first hit the market, which by Sammy's fuzzy math averages to about one unit for every two seconds it's been on sale. According to Samsung Tomorrow, North America contributed the most with 4 million in sales, followed by Europe at 2.5 million. Let there be cake, and once that's over, let there be progress on those Froyo updates.
Mossberg says the iPad is the top 2010 product
Wall Street Journal tech journalist Walt Mossberg says the iPad is "amazing" and his favorite product of 2010. He added that "with the new iOS 4.2 operating system and its huge selection of apps, the iPad continues to stay ahead of the competition." No arguments from here. Apple has redefined the tablet form factor, after years of talk about it from Microsoft, who has yet to really produce anything that has caught on with the public. Mossberg gave his number two ranking to 4G networks, saying they are something "to watch closely in 2011." His third place was a tie between two phones, the Samsung Galaxy S and the iPhone 4. Mossberg also had some thoughts on the worst products of 2010. He cites the Dell Streak tablet as a failure that is "too big to be a phone, yet too small to be a tablet." He also dissed Google TV as not being ready for prime time, suffering from a confusing user interface and a clumsy keyboard.
Samsung Galaxy S receives Gingerbread port right from the Nexus S source (video)
Hold on to your hats, people, there's a wind of awesomeness coming through. The Nexus S is no longer the only Gingerbread game in town, courtesy of supercurio over on the xda-developers forum, who has ported the hot new phone's Android 2.3 install over to its Samsung forefather, the Galaxy S. The port is described as being unmodified from the Nexus S original, although quite a few basic functions like voice, WiFi, and GPS (insert joke about Galaxy S GPS woes) aren't yet operational. All the same, we agree with supercurio that it's looking "super smooth" and look forward to seeing him and the rest of the xda crew polish this stock Android baby off in short order. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Official Android 2.2 (Froyo) update emerges for Sprint's Epic 4G
Samsung may have missed its promised September (and November) ship dates for Froyo on the Galaxy S range, but at this point, we're just pleased to see any progress at all. Sprint's Epic 4G has just become the first US Galaxy S phone to nab an official Android 2.2 (v2.2.1, in fact) build, with the requisite files populating Google's servers this evening. If you'll recall, a near-final build actually leaked out around three weeks ago, but the DK28 version making the rounds at xda-developers looks to be the real deal. Head on over to get your update going, and be sure to let us know how everything turns out in comments below. Update: Looks like Sprint's not so fond of this here version, and is currently recommending that users avoid it. We're sure the "last minute tweaks' the carrier has in mind will actually only take "a minute." Right. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
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 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."
Samsung Galaxy S Femme bundles sexism in with your smartphone purchase
You know what really bugs us about this Samsung Galaxy S Femme handset? No, it's not that it once again trudges out the tired cliché that women must love pink -- it's that it presumes gents can't appreciate the benefits of Aveda's Damage Remedy and Hand Relief creams. We totally can! And we'd love to spend some quality time with the Aveda advisor app, which comes bundled on a 4GB MicroSD card, letting it identify for us the particular products we need to buy to keep our skin and hair looking their best. But, according to the packaging, this 4-inch, Gorilla Glass-bearing smartphone isn't for us. Sigh.
Analyst: iPad to sell 28m in 2011, impacting PC market
Both All Things D and AppleInsider report that, according to the analyst Maynard Um at UBS Investment research, the iPad is having a negative impact on the PC market. In a note to his clients, the analyst Um says, "Sales of traditional notebooks appear to be feeling pressure from the iPad, causing a scramble by vendors to launch iPad-like tablets. We believe that a majority of this impact is occurring on the lower end of PC sales as the iPad is priced close enough to this range that it becomes attractive to consumers looking to make purchases within this segment." Um goes on to say, "We are not sold that the iPad is purely cannibalizing PC sales, as the functionality of the iPad cannot yet deliver the functionality of notebook PCs. However, consumers who purchase iPads may be more willing to delay purchases and upgrades of existing PCs." As a result of this, Um points to a "conservative" projection that Apple will sell 28 million iPads in 2011, and raises his target price for AAPL stock from $340 to $350. Um also pointed out that there is no evidence to say that the iPad is cannibalizing Mac sales. However, in contrast, V3.co.uk reports that 28 million is "a bit high," according to analyst Tin Couling at analyst firm Canalyst. Canalyst predicts that Apple will have sold 12.5 million iPads by the end of this year, but shipments of the iPad will only reach 20 million in 2011 as new tablets flood the market, competing with Apple's iPad. V3.co.uk notes that Samsung's Galaxy Tab is going to be one of the first major competitors to the iPad, but analyst firm Canalyst showed concern over its £650 price tag, sighting that it could make the entry level iPad, at £429, look reasonable (we're inclined to agree with that). And still, only a few short days ago , analyst Katy Huberty from Morgan Stanley predicted that Apple is aiming to build as many as 3 million iPads a month by the end of the year. Meaning that Apple could make up to 36 million iPads next year, well above what both other analyst predict Apple will sell. Apple announced in June that iPad sales had reached three million in its first 80 days. We'll have to wait and see where it goes from there, but analysts seem to agree that Apple's iPad will likely dominate the tablet market well into 2011.
Samsung Fascinate review
By now you've probably seen the reviews of the other Galaxy S phones -- the Epic 4G, Captivate, or Vibrant -- or at least gotten an idea of what Samsung's push into the Android market is all about in 2010. After hitting every other major US carrier with like-minded devices, the company has finally seen fit to unleash the Fascinate on Verizon. Up until this point, the Android offerings on Big Red's network have been varied, but not all particularly attractive beyond the Droid lineup. The Fascinate is arguably the first handset that gives something like the Droid X or the Incredible a proper run for its money. Of course, those are pretty high stakes in game that changes on an almost daily basis, and Samsung's options are not without their... idiosyncrasies. That truth is nowhere more pronounced than on its latest handset. So is the company poised to hit the market where it hurts with this final puzzle piece, or is this an incomplete picture? Read on to find out in our full review of the Samsung Fascinate! %Gallery-101508%
