Today at CTIA, Sprint officially introduced the HTC Evo 3D. Touting it as a glasses free experience, the EVO 3D has a 4.3″ 960×540 qHD display, dual 5MP cameras, and a screaming 1.2 GHz dual core processor. The EVO 3D will be running Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) with the latest HTC Sense overlay. Designed for Sprint’s 4G/WiMax network, the Evo 3D is built for speed and will be powered by 1730 mAh battery to avoid battery life problems plagued by other 4G handsets.
The autostereoscopic 3D display is glasses free, and it’s also got pinch-to-zoom tactile feedback. Thanks to the phone’s dual 5MP cameras, users will be able to shoot 3D video and images to be uploaded to YouTube 3D. Also, Sprint offers simultaneous voice and data capability in 4G and WiFi coverage areas enabling web-surfing while talking. And deeply embedded is Sprint’s new Google Mobile Services which not only allows users to take advantage of maps, search, Gmail, and sync services, but it also allows users to do it from their existing phone number, rather than having to have a separate Google Voice number.
Other features include HDMI out to send HD content to HDMI or DLNA compatible TVs, Stereo Bluetooth, WiFi to 802.11 b/g/n. The Evo 3D also has 4GB internal memory with 1GB RAM and an 8GB mircoSD card slot included. It supports expansion up to 32GB storage. Apps include Sprint Zone, Sprint TV&Movies, Sprint Football Live, Navigation, and NASCARS Sprint Cup Mobile. Blockbuster’s new OnDemand Apps is available out of the box which gives users stream 2D and 3D movies, TV Shows and Games directly to their phones by renting or direct purchase and download.
News Releases
22 March 2011 Sprint Introduces America's First 4G "Glasses-Free" Device with QHD 3D Display, HTC EVO 3D, Coming This Summer
Sprint also brings the popular and powerful HTC EVO experience to a 4G tablet, HTC EVO View 4G, this summer, with new digital pen technology that makes it possible to make notes on Web pages, ebooks, PDF documents and more, in an easy and natural way
ORLANDO, Fla. (BUSINESS WIRE), March 22, 2011 – As the first national wireless carrier to launch the groundbreaking data speeds of 4G, Sprint (NYSE: S) today announced the upcoming availability of its 21st and 22nd 4G-capable devices – HTC EVO™ 3D and HTC EVO View 4G™ on America's Favorite 4G Network.1 HTC EVO 3D takes the mobile multimedia experience to a new level, providing the ability to capture and view in 3D and share at 4G speeds, offering consumers the ultimate glasses-free 3D experience. Sprint also announced HTC EVO View 4G, introducing a tablet to the award-winning EVO family.
Both devices will be available for Sprint customers this summer. Pricing will be shared closer to launch. Pre-registration for both devices begins today at www.sprint.com/evo3d and www.sprint.com/evoview.
Built with the Gingerbread (2.3) version of Android™, HTC EVO 3D features America's first QHD 3D 4.3-inch display and a powerful 1.2 GHz Qualcomm® Snapdragon® dual-core processor. HTC EVO 3D also features dual 5 megapixel cameras, which can be used to capture both high-quality conventional and stunning 3D images and videos, opening up new frontiers for user-generated content, social networking and streaming video.
"Sprint is taking wireless innovation to the next level once again as we bring our customers the ability to experience 3D on their phone without glasses," said Steve Elfman, president – Network Operations, Product and Wholesale, Sprint. "HTC EVO 3D makes it easy to take pictures or movies in 3D when you are on vacation, and then feel like you are there again when you view it months later. This device takes full advantage of Sprint's powerful 4G network and offers the innovation one would expect as the next benchmark device in the prestigious EVO product line."
As 3D has become more sought-after in both movie theaters and family rooms, the ability to enjoy 3D on a wireless phone – 3D glasses-free – will change the way customers interact with their devices. According to The NPD Group’s 3D 360° Monitor (September 2010), consumers show a high degree of interest in working with personal media in 3D (with one-third saying they would like to take photos in 3D). For details, visit http://www.3dmarkettrends.com.
The countless ways customers benefit from HTC EVO 3D's dynamic ability to capture and playback video in 3D include:
Real estate agents can create and share 3D virtual tours of homes that let out-of-town buyers "walk through" the house and truly experience the listings before they can see them live; Dad can feel like he is in the bleachers watching the ball leave the park for a home run even if he's forced to skip a Little League game because he is stuck at the office; 3D mapping of terrain will help build new and exciting features for navigation, and hikers will be able to get aerial views of the topography of rivers and mountains while in the backcountry; and Families can "relive" the excitement of their vacation and feel like they are there again.
"At HTC, we believe in offering a wide portfolio of beautifully designed, powerful and highly customizable devices for our customers, and the HTC EVO portfolio at Sprint does just that," said Jason Mackenzie, president – HTC Americas. "As HTC continues to push the limits of innovation, we are looking forward to delivering the HTC EVO 3D and our first 4G tablet, the HTC EVO View 4G, to Sprint customers this summer."
According to ABI Research (Dec. 20, 2010) mobile 3D devices will be driven by three key applications: creation of user-generated 3D content by integrated video and still cameras, playback of 3D content and 3D gaming. It also anticipates that mobile devices may turn out to be the most successful form factor towards bringing 3D technology into mainstream markets.
With integrated 3D HD (720p) video capture, 4G speeds, and the latest version of the acclaimed HTC Sense experience, HTC EVO 3D makes it possible to become part of the action and then easily and seamlessly post high-quality video to YouTube™ or Facebook, or share moments in real time over the Internet live, via Qik. Its integrated DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) capability makes it fast and easy to share stored music, pictures and user-generated HD video wirelessly with other DLNA-certified® home electronics, including HDTVs, monitors, digital cameras, printers and more. Using an HDMI cable (sold separately) makes it possible to also share user-created 3D video content via a 3D TV.
Additional key features of HTC EVO 3D include:
1.3 megapixel front-facing camera for video chat 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot capability, supporting up to eight Wi-Fi enabled devices simultaneously Android Market™ for access to more than 150,000 useful applications, widgets and games available for download to customize the experience Google mobile services such as Google Search™, Gmail™, Google Maps™ with Navigation, Google Calendar, Voice Actions, and YouTube™ Sprint's unique implementation of Google Voice, allowing customers to keep their Sprint number and seamlessly move to Google Voice Corporate e-mail (Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync®), personal (POP and IMAP) e-mail and instant messaging 4GB Internal memory/1GB RAM microSD slot (supports up to 32GB memory card) Wi-Fi – 802.11 b/g/n Stereo Bluetooth® Integrated GPS 1730 mAh Lithium-ion battery
Blockbuster On Demand Provides Access to the Latest Movies
HTC EVO 3D will be the first 3D handset pre-loaded with the Blockbuster On Demand® mobile application that has access to one of the largest catalogs of movies, including 3D titles. This movie store in your pocket offers video optimized for viewing on HTC EVO 3D's 4.3-inch screen.
"Consumers want to watch the latest entertainment anywhere, anytime," said Scott Levine, vice president of Digital, Blockbuster. "Sprint and Blockbuster are taking the movie watching experience to the next level with enabling 3D on a smartphone."
Blockbuster On Demand offers the hottest new releases on the same day they become available on Blu-ray and DVD. Customers can buy or rent digitally and download directly to their smartphone, along with select 3D movies.
If a video isn't available digitally, Blockbuster also gives customers access to more than 100,000 movies and TV shows, as well as games, through store inventory at any of the Blockbuster stores nationwide. Also, Blockbuster® by Mail is another option for consumers. They can manage and update their mail queues from their phone, while on-the-go.
Blockbuster On Demand purchases can also be watched on other Blockbuster On Demand-compatible devices. Rentals range from $1.99 to $3.99 each, and purchases are $5.99 and up. Rentals will be available for viewing on one screen within 30 days of rental, with a 24-hour viewing period once the title is first played.
Bringing the EVO Experience to a Tablet
Sprint and HTC's first 3G/4G Android tablet together, HTC EVO View 4G, will bring the best of the HTC EVO experience into a tablet design with a 7-inch 1024 x 600 touchscreen display with pinch-to-zoom, a 1.5 GHz Qualcomm® Snapdragon® processor and the latest version of HTC Sense. As the perfect combination e-reader, media player and portable computing device, HTC EVO View 4G offers a premium entertainment experience with HD-quality video and a rich Web-browsing experience with the ability to browse the Web on Flash-enabled sites.
With dual cameras – a main 5 megapixel auto-focus camera with HD-capable video camcorder and a forward-facing 1.3 megapixel camera – HTC EVO View 4G unleashes the ability to create, stream over the lightning-fast 4G network, share via YouTube™ or Facebook® and watch video with the Qik mobile app.
Although the sleek, aluminum-encased tablet weighs less than a paperback book, it is a powerful productivity tool for business customers and consumers. With lightning-fast 4G connectivity and a large touchscreen display, HTC EVO View 4G makes it even easier to manage e-mail, and its front-facing camera makes the Qik video chat application an easy and appealing way to conduct business while on-the-go.
Additional key features of HTC EVO View 4G include:
3G/4G Mobile Hotspot capability, supporting up to eight Wi-Fi enabled devices simultaneously Google mobile services such as Google Search, Gmail, Google Maps with Navigation, Voice Actions, and YouTube Corporate e-mail (Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync), personal (POP and IMAP) e-mail and instant messaging Android Market™ for access to more than 150,000 useful applications, widgets and games available for download to customize the experience Blockbuster On Demand® to rent or purchase the hottest new releases on the same day they become available on Blu-ray and DVD 32GB internal memory, 1GB RAM microSD slot (supports up to 32GB memory card) Wi-Fi b/g/n Bluetooth 3.0 Integrated GPS 4000 mAh Lithium-ion battery
With HTC Scribe Technology™, HTC EVO View 4G will offer a new way to interact with a tablet. HTC Scribe Technology introduces a unique digital pen to the tablet experience and unlocks new capabilities. When combined with Evernote™, a leading notes application and service, the user will have the ability to capture and make notes on Web pages, ebooks, PDF documents and more, in an easy and natural way. Additionally, HTC Scribe enables enhanced voice-synchronized note taking using a feature called Timemark, making it possible to capture the audio of a meeting at the same time as written notes.
Also improving on the tablet experience, HTC EVO View 4G allows users to draw, take notes and highlight text on documents on the tablet with the HTC Scribe™ digital pen. Sold separately and available this summer, the enhanced functionality of the HTC Scribe brings creativity to life. For example, the user can draw a sketch or add notations and highlight paragraphs, while reading an eBook, review and comment on PDF documents and add casual comment on photos.
A Sprint developer guide for HTC EVO 3D and HTC EVO View 4G will be available on the Sprint Application Developer website at launch. The developer guide will provide details and information on how to take advantage of their unique hardware and software capabilities, including 3D, HDMI output, DLNA and HTC Scribe Technology on the Sprint Network.
As the first national wireless carrier to test, launch and market 4G technology, Sprint made history by launching 4G in Baltimore in September 2008. Sprint currently offers 4G service in 71 markets in 28 states. For more information, visit www.sprint.com/4G.
About Sprint Nextel
Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline communications services bringing the freedom of mobility to consumers, businesses and government users. Sprint Nextel served more than 49.9 million customers at the end of 2010 and is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including the first wireless 4G service from a national carrier in the United States; offering industry-leading mobile data services, leading prepaid brands including Virgin Mobile USA, Boost Mobile, and Assurance Wireless; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. Newsweek ranked Sprint No. 6 in its 2010 Green Rankings, listing it as one of the nation's greenest companies, the highest of any telecommunications company. You can learn more and visit Sprint at www.sprint.com or www.facebook.com/sprint and www.twitter.com/sprint.
About HTC
HTC Corporation (HTC) is one of the fastest growing companies in the mobile phone industry. By putting people at the center of everything it does, HTC creates innovative devices that better serve the lives and needs of individuals. The company is listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange under ticker 2498. For more information about HTC, please visit www.htc.com.
Note: Device features, specifications, services and applications are subject to change.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Visit www.sprint.com/newswroom or www.sprint.com/presskits for more information and images.
1 Based on number of Sprint 4G subscribers vs. those on other wireless 4G (WiMAX and LTE) networks in the United States.
HTC EVO™ 3D fact sheet Enjoy 3D without glasses on the go
Exclusively from Sprint, HTC EVO 3D is America's first 4G smartphone with a 4.3 inch 3D QHD display that allows users to capture, record and playback in 3D – without having to wear 3D glasses. With the latest version of the acclaimed HTC Sense user experience and powered by Android 2.3 (Gingerbread), HTC EVO 3D is ideal for users who want to both stream video and generate their own video experience to record life's moments, view them in 3D and share them easily. Users can quickly download movies, create user generated content and enjoy a Flash-enabled web browsing experience using the speed of the 3G/4G network and the power a 1.2 GHz dual-core Qualcomm® Snapdragon® processor. HTC EVO 3D takes full advantage of Sprint's powerful 4G network and offers the innovation one would expect as the next benchmark device in the prestigious EVO product line.
PRODUCTIVITY · Industry-leading 4.3-inch 3D QHD display with pinch-to-zoom and tactile feedback · 3G/4G capability · 1.2 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon dual-core processor · World-class HTML browser – bandwidth and quality that rival that of netbooks · Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) and the latest version of HTC Sense, an acclaimed user experience, which includes Friend Stream to integrate Facebook, Twitter and more into a single flow of updates · Simultaneous voice and data capability in 4G and Wi-Fi coverage areas, enabling Web surfing and more while talking · GoogleTM mobile services, including Google SearchTM, Google MapsTM, Google TalkTM, GmailTM, YouTubeTM , and syncs with Google CalendarTM, as well as access to Google Goggles™ to search with pictures instead of words · 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot capability supporting up to eight Wi-Fi enabled devices simultaneously · Android Market™ for access to more than 150,000 useful applications, widgets and games available for download to customize the experience
ENTERTAINMENT · Download, edit and share HD-quality content directly from the device · Dual 5 megapixel cameras, to capture 3D video and images and a 1.3MP front-facing camera, that together open up a new frontier for user generated content, social networking and streaming video · Access to 3D version of Blockbuster OnDemand app with access to 2D and 3D movies, TV shows and games for rent or purchase and download · Video chat service available as an upgrade to the pre-loaded Qik app to enable conversational, interactive, real-time sharing between mobile devices or from mobile-to-desktop · Capture video in HD quality, 2D at 1080p and 3D at 720p · Output HD content to a compatible TV using HDMI or DLNA · Media player with 3.5mm stereo headset jack · Sprint applications including Sprint Zone, Sprint TV & Movies®, Sprint Football Live, Sprint Navigation and NASCAR Sprint Cup Mobile · Stereo Bluetooth® · Built-in Wi-Fi: 802.11 b/g/n
SPECIFICATIONS · Dimensions: 5.0″ x 2.6″ x .48″ (LxWxT) · Weight: 6 ounces · Main display: 4.3-inch 3D QHD capacitive display (960 x 540) · Battery life: TBD · Standard removable 1730 mAh Lithium-ion battery · Memory: 4GB Internal memory/1GB RAM; Expandable memory: 8GB microSD card included; supports up to 32GB
Note: Device features, specifications, services and applications are subject to change.
Sprint has officially announced the HTC EVO View 4G, the CDMA/WiMAX version of the HTC Flyer revealed last month. Described by CEO Dan Hesse as “not faux-g, 4G”, the tablet will have a 7-inch 1024 x 600 capacitive touchscreen, 1.5GHz single-core Snapdragon processor and front and rear cameras (5-megapixels on the back, 1.3-megapixels on the front).
There’s also a mobile hotspot app that will be able to share the tablet’s 4G connection with up to eight WiFi-connected devices, for an extra $29.99 per month on top of your voice and data package, along with DLNA support for streaming media to nearby HDTVs and other devices. On top of Android 2.4 Gingerbread is HTC’s Sense UI, complete with integration with Evernote so that the EVO View 4G’s digital stylus can be used to take handwritten notes and sync them into the cloud.
The HTC EVO View 4G will be one of 22 4G devices Sprint is promising to have in its line-up by this summer. The carrier is yet to confirm pricing, but the tablet will arrive this summer with 32GB of storage.
HTC EVO View 4G fact sheet:
Bringing the award-winning EVO experience to a tablet
HTC EVO View 4G™ brings the best of the EVO experience to a sleek, easy-to-carry tablet design. As the perfect combination e-reader, media player and portable computing device, HTC EVO View 4G offers a 7-inch 1024 x 600 touchscreen display with pinch-to-zoom for a premium entertainment experience with HD-quality video and rich Web browsing experience. It features two cameras – a 5.0 megapixel auto-focus camera with HD-capable video camcorder and a forward-facing 1.3 megapixel camera. With integrated HD-video (720p) capture and the 4G speeds of HTC EVO View 4G, slow uploads and grainy video are a thing of the past. Using HTC Scribe Technology™, HTC EVO View 4G will offer a new way to interact with a tablet. HTC Scribe introduces the HTC Scribe™ digital pen (sold separately) to the tablet experience and unlocks new capabilities. When combined with Evernote™, a leading notes application and service, the user will have the ability to capture and make notes on Web pages, ebooks, PDF documents and more, in an easy and natural way.
PRODUCTIVITY · Android operating system · HTC Scribe Technology enabling enhanced voice-synchronized note taking with the HTC Scribe digital pen using Timemark to capture the audio of a meeting at the same time as written notes · Google mobile services such as Google Search™, Gmail™, Google Maps™ with Navigation, Voice Actions and YouTube™ · Corporate email (Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync), personal (POP & IMAP) email and instant messaging · 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot capability, supporting up to eight Wi-Fi enabled devices simultaneously · Android Market™ for access to more than 150,000 useful applications, widgets and games available for download to customize the experience · 4G data speeds (WiMAX) – peak download speeds of more than 10 Mbps; peak upload speeds of 1 Mbps; average download speeds of 3-6 Mbps · 3G data speeds (EVDO Rev A.) – peak download speeds of up to 3.1 Mbps; peak upload speeds of 1.8 Mbps; average download speeds of 600 kbps-1.4 Mbps · Wi-Fi® (802.11 b/g/n) · Integrated GPS
ENTERTAINMENT · Dual cameras – a 5.0 megapixel auto-focus camera with HD-capable video camcorder and a forward-facing 1.3 megapixel camera – HTC EVO View 4G unleashes the ability to create, stream and watch video or video chat with the Qik mobile app · Blockbuster On Demand® to rent or purchase the hottest new releases on the same day they become available on Blu-ray and DVD · Sprint Zone, Sprint Mobile Wallet, Sprint Football Live, Sprint Family Locator, Sprint Navigation and NASCAR Sprint Cup MobileSM · Media player with 3.5 mm stereo headset jack · Stereo Bluetooth 3.0
SPECIFICATIONS · 1.5GHz Qualcomm® Snapdragon® Processor · Dimensions: 7.7 inches (195.4 mm) x 4.4 inches (112.5 mm) x 0.5 inches (13.2 mm) · Weight: 14.88 ounces (421.84 grams) · Display: 7-inch (177.8 mm), 1024 x 600 touchscreen display with pinch-to-zoom · 32GB internal memory, 1GB RAM; microSD slot (supports up to 32GB memory card) · Battery: 4000 mAh Lithium-ion battery
This is what Samsung is showing off as their total revamp of the tablet for Android by Samsung, specifically on the Galaxy Tab family. This system will be introduced first on the Samsung GALAXY Tab 10.1 and 8.9. This will be an optional upgrade for the tablet family, one you can feel free to download once it’s fully available later this year after the 10.1 and 8.9 are available in their Wifi-only versions. One of the biggest innovations here is the idea that a homescreen replacement doesn’t have to hold back, it can be a complete replacement, one that uses Android as an engine and that’s it!
Take a peek at the video we’ve got here of this new system in action and we’ll fill you in as to the entirety of the details as we receive them. It’s got widgets that are as big as the screen, an App tray that allows you to access your apps in an instant, pop and pop. Will this overlay be a hit? Have a peek here to see how it looks in working mode. Oddly enticing!
Having just looked at a rather heavy replacement of the original Android experience on the Sidekick, we’re pretty confident that Samsung has something going for them here. Thus far, we’ve only seen excellent overlays from developers and hackers working outside the market. With this tablet UI as well as the one we’ve seen now a couple times on the Samsung Sidekick, we might well be looking at a whole new door opening up for secondary overlays over Android.
While I’ve got a hunch that the GALAXY Tab 8.9 is going to be the break-out superstar of this whole situation, you’ve got to admit that this particular tablet is set up QUITE nicely to go directly into battle with the iPad 2 and the Motorola XOOM. We’ve been essentially championing the Motorola XOOM since it arrived on our doorstep, but no matter how in love I personally am with that particular bowl of Honeycomb, I can’t help but look very much forward to this slightly thinner and definitely lighter device.
And it’s got Honeycomb as well! The Samsung GALAXY Tab 10.1 is set to be released first as a Wifi-only device, the same as its compatriot, the smaller 8.9 GALAXY Tab model, and both models will be rolling with Android 3.0 out of the gate. From there, soon after, perhaps I’d wager to guess once the HSPA+ versions are released, there’ll be an optional update to Samsung TouchWiz UX, a user interface made to make your tablet a super awesome machine from mars. Basically they’re saying that this is the next step after Honeycomb.
Samsung GALAXY Tab 10.1 hands-on:
NOTE the models you’re seeing in these images are not final models of the tablets, therefor you’ll see some tags and notches and such that won’t necessarily be there for the final build. It’s MOSTLY there though.
Samsung TouchWiz for Tablets demo:
Google made Android Honeycomb to work with tablets in a set of rather obvious ways, (if you’re used to a handset Android,) but Samsung is saying that there’s much more than that here in this barrel of bees. And they want to show it off in two models, one that’ll blow the first Tab away, the other that’ll show up the iPad 2 and the XOOM. And you know what? I think they’ve got a good chance at hanging in there.
With this larger tablet of the two, they’ve got a light, nice looking, and nice feeling device with a powerful set of guts inside, and it’s got what may be a nice set of speakers. One of the only differences between these two new Tabs is a set of surround-sound stereo speakers which you can see in a few different photos below. The smaller tablet doesn’t have speaker grills on the sides like this larger tablet does.
GALAXY Tab 10.1 vs 8.9 vs iPad 2 vs XOOM:
Again I think the 8.9 GALAXY Tab is going to be the bigger deal because it sort of carves out that same niche that the original Galaxy Tab did and still sort of does, but this larger tablet is set up pretty nice to contend with the big guns in tablet warfare today. Watch out for it!
Before we begin, I must mention that the model we got our hands on here at CTIA 2011 was a pre-production model, and changes are definitely in the works before this device and the other Samsung devices we got to peek at would be ready for the market. The model we’re talking about here is the smaller of the two tablets being offered up here as a completely epic addition to the tablet world, not just on the Android side of things, but on the world market. This tablet is going into direct competition with not only the Motorola XOOM, not only will it blast the GALAXY Tab original out of the water, but it’ll stand up to the iPad and throw down.
First Impressions
Now this post isn’t going to include a lot of specs, as you can get all of those back in the “Revealed” post which also includes the press release for this device. This post is all about how this device felt to hold. Since we were unable to turn the GALAXY Tab 8.9 on, having instead to base our judgements entirely on how the device felt to hold and to look at. Preview: the mini-judgement is positive!
Hardware
This is an amazingly thing device. It’s one of the thinnest mobile devices you’re going to hold and use, and it’s hella impressive. You’re going to question your purchase of the iPad 2. It’s that awesome. Sadly we cannot comment yet on much more than the hardware, on the other hand, as we were able to hold and handle these pre-release tablets in nearly all their glory, their insides just not quite ready to go quite yet.
Samsung GALAXY Tab 8.9 hands-on:
Seriously though, this tablet feels extremely thin, extremely light. I feel like making a rave song of that sound clip. This device is thin and light but it doesn’t feel flimsy in anyway, as thin and light devices often do. On the contrary, this is a tablet that’s as small as a tablet aught to be with all the tricked out aesthetics in the hardware that it should have to give confidence enough to the consumer who’ll be investing their hard-earned bucks into a screen that’ll access them all their mobile needs.
This is the one! This is the next wave of tablet. There’s also a 10.1-inch version of this tablet getting released more than likely at exactly the same time as this smaller version, but this is the winner. The Samsung Galaxy Tab original is an excellent size for carrying around and tapping away at daily doings – this one does the same thing with a similar size and a much more modern look and feel. It’s well done.
GALAXY Tab 10.1 vs 8.9 vs iPad 2 vs XOOM:
Software
We can’t speak to the software basically at all since the TouchWiz overlay that’s going to be applied to Honeycomb here isn’t ready for application and the devices we’ve got here on hand were not able to turn on. They were fully ready-to-photograph dummies, and we DID get to peek at the special TouchWiz that’ll be applied later on, but not the two connected. Therefore we’ll have to leave this set of notes for the review when we’re able to have it before us contracted.
Samsung TouchWiz for Tablets demo:
Take a peek at the gallery below, head back to the “Revealed” post to see all the officially released details on the device, then stick with us as we double-analyze all the photos we’ve got for oddities – and be sure to not be shy if you’ve got any questions or comments!
NOTE also that the photos below and above contain four tablets: GALAXY Tab 10.1, GALAXY Tab 8.9, Motorola XOOM, and the iPad 2.
We’re here at CTIA 2011 where we’ve been given the opportunity to take an early look at the soon to be announced Samsung GALAXY Tab 10.1 Android 3.0 Honeycomb tablet. This is a device that will be released with the tablet centric Honeycomb version of Android and will be given the option to upgrade to a TouchWiz tablet optimized user interface soon after release. This tablet’s Wifi-only version will be released this summer, while it’s 4G HSPA+ version will be released soon after.
This is the larger of the two tablets being released at the same time by Samsung, both of them sort of annihilating their previous release of the original Samsung Galaxy Tab with massively improved aesthetics and I’d say overall feel as well. You hold on to this tablet and you’re really proud you’ve purchased it. That’s what’s going to happen to you. This tablet will come in three sizes in memory, 16, 32, or 64GB, each with a microSD slot for a 32GB upgrade if you wish.
Inside you’ll find a 6800 mAh battery for what they’re saying is 10 hours of video, the size of this tablet is right on 256.6 x 172.9 x 8.6 mm, it weighs in at 595g (LIGHT!) and its rolling out with Bluetooth 2.1, USB 2.0, Wifi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Gyroscope, Accelerometer, Digital Compass, Ambient Light sensor, and a partridge in a pair tree. Take a peek at the rest of the details below and take note especially at the size of this device compared to the tablets it’s very soon going to be going into direct competition with: Motorola XOOM and iPad 2.
Update: The Galaxy Tab 10.1 WiFi will go on sale on June 8, priced at $499 for the 16GB model and $599 for the 32GB model.
Samsung Unveils GALAXY Tab 10.1 and GALAXY Tab 8.9, World's Thinnest Mobile Tablets
Samsung GALAXY Tab 10.1 and GALAXY Tab 8.9 to feature the first customized Android™ 3.0 experience ORLANDO, March 22, 2011 – Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., the global leader in Android™ mobile devices, announced two new additions to its family of GALAXY Tabs, the GALAXY Tab 10.1 and GALAXY Tab 8.9, the world's thinnest mobile tablets, measuring just 8.6 millimeters.
The GALAXY Tab 10.1 and 8.9 feature Samsung's own TouchWiz user interface implemented on the Android™ 3.0 (Honeycomb) platform, offering superior multi-tasking and enhanced user interaction and navigation.
"The GALAXY Tab 10.1 and 8.9 are remarkable examples of Samsung's constant innovation and show our dedication to designing premium tablets that fit the unique needs of consumers around the world", said JK Shin, President and Head of Samsung's Mobile Communications Business. "By combining Samsung's innovations in design and display with our exciting new user experience, we've created a new class of products that will lead the tablet market."
Thinner & Lighter The GALAXY Tab 10.1 and 8.9 are the thinnest mobile tablets available. The GALAXY Tab 10.1 weighs 595 grams and 8.9 weighs 470 grams. Combining the GALAXY Tabs' ultra-thin form factor with a lightweight design adds to the outstanding mobility of these two products.
Super Fast The new GALAXY Tabs will support HSPA+ network speeds of up to 21Mbps as well as Bluetooth® and Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n connectivity to deliver rapid mobile download speeds and reduce data transfer times. Also, the GALAXY Tab 10.1 and 8.9 include a 1GHz dual core application processor for a powerful multimedia and web browsing experience.
Customized User Experience "Samsung TouchWiz UX" Samsung's TouchWiz user experience is designed with a Live Panel menu users can customize to display a variety of content on the home screen including digital pictures, favorite Web sites and social network feeds. In addition, the interface includes an application tray of commonly used features such as task manager, calendar and music player which can be launched while other major applications are also in use, including large file downloads and document editing. This Mini Apps Tray provides a mixture of convenience and flexibility previously unheard of with tablet devices.
The Ultimate Entertainment Hub The GALAXY Tab 10.1 and 8.9 are pre-loaded with Readers Hub and Music Hub giving consumers instant access to more than 2.2 million books, 2,000 newspaper (49 languages), 2,300 magazines (22 languages), and 13 million songs. The devices are also designed with Samsung's Social Hub, which will aggregate email, instant messaging, contacts, calendar and social network connections into a single interface. The GALAXY Tab 10.1 and 8.9 feature a 3 megapixel rear camera and a 2 megapixel front camera, providing smooth transition and seamless 1080p HD video and Flash playback for a rich entertainment experience.
Ready for Business The GALAXY Tab 10.1 and 8.9 will include an industry leading suite of solutions designed to give enterprise customers and IT managers more security. Developed in collaboration with industry-leading partners such as Cisco, Sybase, SAP and Citrix, Samsung’s enterprise mobility solutions will provide flexibility and connectivity for mobile workforces, ensuring that users are able to operate more efficiently on–the-move.
GALAXY Tab 10.1 GALAXY Tab 10.1, with its WXGA TFT LCD display (1280 x 800) powered by 1GHz dual core AP, is 8.6mm thin and weighs only 595g. It is the perfect device for sharing and enjoying media content with family and friends. In addition, with its surround-sound stereo speakers and support for Flash 10.2, the GALAXY Tab 10.1 will deliver premium entertainment experience whether watching videos, movies or playing games.
Samsung GALAXY Tab 10.1 Network HSPA+ 21Mbps 850/900/1900/2100 EDGE/GPRS 850/900/1800/1900 OS Android™ 3.0 (Honeycomb) Display 10.1" WXGA 1280×800 Processor 1GHz Dual Core application processor Camera Main(Rear) : 3.0-Mega Pixel Camera AF with LED Flash Front : 2.0-Mega Pixel Camera Video Format : MPEG4/H263/H264,Divx/Xvid Playback : 1080p Full HD Video @ 30fps Recording : 720p HD Video Audio MP3, AAC, AAC+, eAAC+, OGG, MIDI, AMR-NB/WB 3.5mm Ear Jack, Surround Sound Stereo Speakers Enterprise Solutions Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync Quickoffice HD Editor Value-added Features Android Market™ Google Mobile Services : Google™ Talk Video Chat, Google™ Maps, Books, etc. Samsung TouchWiz UX Samsung Mini Apps Tray Social Hub, Music Hub, Readers Hub *Availability differs by region Adobe Flash Player 10.2 Connectivity Bluetooth® technology v 2.1 + EDR USB 2.0 WiFi 802.11 (a/b/g/n) Sensor Gyroscope, Accelerometer, Digital Compass, Ambient Light sensor Memory 16G / 32G / 64G, microSD slot (up to 32GB) *Size 256.6 x 172.9 x 8.6 mm, 595g Battery 6800mAh
We’re here at CTIA 2011 up close and personal with the brand new Samsung GALAXY Tab 8.9, an 8.9-inch Android 3.0 Honeycomb tablet weighting in at the unbelievably light weight of 470 grams. This device is set to come in a variety of sizes, 16, 32, 64GB, and will be coming in both a Wifi-only version as well as a 4G HSPA+ version, the Wifi version set to be released this summer. This device as well at its 10.1″ relative releasing with Android 3.0 Honeycomb upgradable to a lovely TouchWiz user interface by Samsung that’ll be a completely optimized for the tablet environment. And it’s pretty, oh so pretty.
If I was a betting man, and I am, I’d say that the 16GB version of this device, if they DO end up selling different size GB versions, will be the biggest seller. It’s such a perfect size and it’s such an thin tablet that it’ll just bust the crap out of the competition when its released. Whether or not it’ll bust its weight around through the carrier ranks remains to be seen, but that wifi version, heck man, that’s going to be a stunner. The big question all owners of the device will be having to ask themselves is if they’re going to choose to upgrade their user interface to the TouchWiz option or not – you don’t HAVE to, but the option will be there.
This device will be exactly 230.9 x 157.8 x 8.6 mm in dimension, it’ll be running a humming 1GHz Dual Core application processor, and the networks it’ll be capable of working with will be specifically the following: HSPA+ 21Mbps 850/900/1900/2100, EDGE/GPRS 850/900/1800/1900 – that’s of course the carrier versions of this device, not the Wifi-only. The face of this device will have a 2 megapixel camera, large when you consider the MAJOR majority of front-facing cameras to be 1.5, then the back will be working with a 3.0 megapixel camera AF with LED flash. That’s less than exciting, owing more than likely to the fact that tablets aren’t at this moment in history made to be media collecting devices, instead media distributing devices.
A lot of the other details I’ll leave to the press release to reveal to you, but an important point to make is that this device will be launching with Adobe Flash Player 10.2 for all your flash needs. NOTE: one of the devices we compare this GALAXY Tab 8.9 to in the photos and video is the Motorola XOOM Android 3.0 Honeycomb tablet – the XOOM also just received its update to a working copy of Flash less than a week ago.
We’ll be rolling out a bit more info on this device and the GALAXY Tab 10.1 today and in the following weeks leading up until the release of the device via review model. Can’t wait to play with a working device!
Update: The Galaxy Tab 8.9 WiFi will follow on in “early summer” priced at $469 for the 16GB and $569 for the 32GB.
Samsung Unveils GALAXY Tab 10.1 and GALAXY Tab 8.9, World's Thinnest Mobile Tablets
Samsung GALAXY Tab 10.1 and GALAXY Tab 8.9 to feature the first customized Android™ 3.0 experience
ORLANDO, March 22, 2011 – Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., the global leader in Android™ mobile devices, announced two new additions to its family of GALAXY Tabs, the GALAXY Tab 10.1 and GALAXY Tab 8.9, the world's thinnest mobile tablets, measuring just 8.6 millimeters.
The GALAXY Tab 10.1 and 8.9 feature Samsung's own TouchWiz user interface implemented on the Android™ 3.0 (Honeycomb) platform, offering superior multi-tasking and enhanced user interaction and navigation.
"The GALAXY Tab 10.1 and 8.9 are remarkable examples of Samsung's constant innovation and show our dedication to designing premium tablets that fit the unique needs of consumers around the world", said JK Shin, President and Head of Samsung's Mobile Communications Business. "By combining Samsung's innovations in design and display with our exciting new user experience, we've created a new class of products that will lead the tablet market."
Thinner & Lighter The GALAXY Tab 10.1 and 8.9 are the thinnest mobile tablets available. The GALAXY Tab 10.1 weighs 595 grams and 8.9 weighs 470 grams. Combining the GALAXY Tabs' ultra-thin form factor with a lightweight design adds to the outstanding mobility of these two products.
Super Fast The new GALAXY Tabs will support HSPA+ network speeds of up to 21Mbps as well as Bluetooth® and Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n connectivity to deliver rapid mobile download speeds and reduce data transfer times. Also, the GALAXY Tab 10.1 and 8.9 include a 1GHz dual core application processor for a powerful multimedia and web browsing experience.
Customized User Experience "Samsung TouchWiz UX" Samsung's TouchWiz user experience is designed with a Live Panel menu users can customize to display a variety of content on the home screen including digital pictures, favorite Web sites and social network feeds. In addition, the interface includes an application tray of commonly used features such as task manager, calendar and music player which can be launched while other major applications are also in use, including large file downloads and document editing. This Mini Apps Tray provides a mixture of convenience and flexibility previously unheard of with tablet devices.
The Ultimate Entertainment Hub The GALAXY Tab 10.1 and 8.9 are pre-loaded with Readers Hub and Music Hub giving consumers instant access to more than 2.2 million books, 2,000 newspaper (49 languages), 2,300 magazines (22 languages), and 13 million songs. The devices are also designed with Samsung's Social Hub, which will aggregate email, instant messaging, contacts, calendar and social network connections into a single interface. The GALAXY Tab 10.1 and 8.9 feature a 3 megapixel rear camera and a 2 megapixel front camera, providing smooth transition and seamless 1080p HD video and Flash playback for a rich entertainment experience.
Ready for Business The GALAXY Tab 10.1 and 8.9 will include an industry leading suite of solutions designed to give enterprise customers and IT managers more security. Developed in collaboration with industry-leading partners such as Cisco, Sybase, SAP and Citrix, Samsung’s enterprise mobility solutions will provide flexibility and connectivity for mobile workforces, ensuring that users are able to operate more efficiently on–the-move.
GALAXY Tab 8.9 At just 8.6mm thin and weighing only 470g, the GALAXY Tab 8.9 is the perfect device for today's mobile professional. Whether writing emails on a trip or reading an eBook on the couch, the GALAXY Tab 8.9 provides the ultimate tablet experience without compromising mobility.
The GALAXY Tab 10.1 and 8.9 now join the original 7-inch GALAXY Tab to provide consumers with an unmatched array of choices to select the mobile tablet experience that fits their needs the best.
Samsung's entire line of GALAXY Tabs will be on display at the Samsung booth (#2440) at CTIA Wireless 2011, March 22 through March 24.
Samsung GALAXY Tab 8.9 Network HSPA+ 21Mbps 850/900/1900/2100, EDGE/GPRS 850/900/1800/1900 OS Android™ 3.0 (Honeycomb) Display 8.9" WXGA 1280×800 Processor 1GHz Dual Core application processor Camera Main(Rear) : 3.0-Mega Pixel Camera AF with LED Flash Front : 2.0-Mega Pixel Camera Video Format : MPEG4/H263/H264, Divx/Xvid Playback : 1080p Full HD Video @ 30fps Recording : 720p HD Video Audio MP3, AAC, AAC+, eAAC+, OGG, MIDI, AMR-NB/WB 3.5mm Ear Jack, Stereo Speaker Enterprise Solutions Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync Quickoffice HD Editor Value-added Features Android Market™ Google Mobile Services : Google™ Talk Video Chat, Google™ Maps, Books, etc Samsung TouchWiz UX Samsung Mini Apps Tray Social Hub, Music Hub, Readers Hub *Availability differs by region Adobe Flash Player 10.2 Connectivity Bluetooth® technology v 3.0 USB 2.0 WiFi 802.11 (a/b/g/n) Sensor Gyroscope, Accelerometer, Digital Compass, Ambient Light sensor Memory 16G / 32G / 64G, microSD slot (up to 32GB) *Size 230.9 x 157.8 x 8.6 mm, 470g Battery 6000mAh
Here at CTIA 2011 we’ve been granted the opportunity to get a slightly early hands-on with the first Sidekick to be jam packed with Android goodness. This device comes in two color schemes, one of them with a black underside and white back, the other with a white underside and pink back. This phone, in my own personal opinion, marks a turning point for Android, one where devices running Google’s mobile OS are aimed at the feminine instead of just the masculine brute in us all, that one who loves every color just so long as it’s BLACK!
First Impressions
I refuse to say that the pink model of this brand new version of the Sidekick is made for girls because heck, look at the awesomeness of that bright blast of color! It’s clearly made for the sassy feminine figure in each and every one of us. The phone is clearly made for folks who like to text, type, or otherwise message one another, as the entire Sidekick line has always been, and the addition of Android has blasted its insides into outer space in a way that I can only describe as the most ambitious user interface modification ever applied to Android.
Hands-on Video Demo:
Software
While the hardware is, as nearly always, the first bit of information your brain will take time to process when handling a new device, here, since we already know how a Sidekick is supposed to function, this one stabs you in the eyeballs with its wild colors and completely unique set of controls and interface. This device even marks its info screen differently than the average Android phone, marking its version of Android as “Firmware version: 2.2.1″ and its Build number as FROYO.UVKCB. You could also note the model number if you felt so inclined here, SGH-T839.
Once you back out of settings, or NEARLY back out of settings, you take note of an interface chooser along the lines of our favorite non-root homescreen replacement app ADW Launcher EX. This new system goes by two names, both of them marked with a spraypaint-can icon: inside options it’s called Theme Settings, if you locate the same deal in your apps, it’s called Theme Changer. You’re given several options (which we’ll get into in more detail in a separate post) including the ultra-insane “Hipster Eye.”
Everything from the homescreens to the app chooser to the phone dialer is taken over by this fabulous Sidekick overlay. Lots of apps seem to be integrated in like qik for video chat, Media Hub, Visual Voicemail, wifi calling, group text, and the sweetly touted Cloud Texting which will allow you to pretty much chat from whichever device you’ve got to whichever other device you’ve got one it’s released in earnest.
An extremely helpful item you’ll be glad you found inside this phone, a list I think every phone should have, is Tips and Tricks. On this list is a very important guide for such an odd phone, “Physical Buttons,” or in this case “Sidekick Physical Buttons.” A more lovely set of infographics explaining the device they appear on has never been seen.
Hardware
This device is quite comfortable to hold, definitely made for landscape mode, and is pretty hardcore despite its possible plastic weak points. The hinge you’re working with here is plastic, but it’s not cheap. If you leave this device open you’ll definitely run the risk that someone might sit or step on and snap the back of it.
The back panel is simple to remove revealing a 1500 mAh battery and slots for both a SIM card and a microSD card for bonus storage. There’s not too much NEW to say about the hardware as it’s essentially the same model T-Mobile has been Sidekickin’ since back in the day, but with Android running around inside, there’s some magic going on. I’ll commit to that for sure.
We’re looking forward to having a much longer time walking through the insides of this unique device once T-Mobile has it ready to review. Pink please! Ok fine, white.
Cobra is at CTIA and the company has already unveiled the PhoneLynx for Android devices. It is also unveiling a cool device that fits on your key ring called the CobraTag that allows you to keep up with your Android device. That CobraTag is about the size of a remote for your door locks on a car. This might be the perfect thing for people that lose their smartphone a lot.
The CobraTag works in conjunction with a free app that will be on the Android Market when the hardware launches. It will also support Blackberry smartphones as well. The idea is that the CobraTag will connect to your smartphone via Bluetooth and help you find it if it gets lost. You can activate the phone alarm by pressing a button on the CobraTag.
The CobraTag is also a wireless leash for your smartphone or other items like your keys that will alarm and send messages to a preset list if the tag is separated from the phone. The cool part is that the alarm works both ways. If you have the CobraTag attached to your keys you can make it alarm by pressing a button on the smartphone. Launch is set for July at $59.99.
I always think of radar detectors and CB radios when I hear the Cobra name, but the company has branched out a lot lately with new gear that targets mobile users. The first Mobile phone product I mentioned from the company was the iRadar for Android. Cobra has unveiled a new product at CTIA for Android folks that use a mobile phone only called PhoneLynx.
PhoneLynx is a Bluetooth device that works in conjunction with an app on the Android smartphone. It allows the smartphone to be left in a room near the PhoneLynx hardware and will shoot the calls over to the phones in your home. The idea is that the device will let you use the wires in your house that are already there and not being used so you can answer the phone without having to take your mobile with you everywhere.
The PhoneLynx supports voice dial to any number in the Android devices phone book. It has message waiting for voicemail to activate lights on handsets in the home and it supports speed dial. Other features include auto hands free, an alarm clock to ring all handsets in the home at a set time, and improved reception. The device will launch on May 1 at $59.99 and the app is free on the Android Market.
According to the geeks over at AllThingsD today is the big day for the Android Appstore coming out party. This is despite the fact that Apple has filed a trademark infringement suit against Amazon over their treading on Apple’s App Store trademark. The official link for the new Amazon Appstore will be Amazon.com/appstore.
At the time I wrote this, the link simply redirects to the home page so when the official go time is we don't know. Amazon will offer a version of the store that Android users can download to their handset. The store also reportedly supports hundreds of mobile operators and handsets.
The catalog is supposed to start out with about 3,800 offerings. The real question that lingers for a lot of Android users and fans is what will set this store apart from the official Android Market and all the others out there. We already know Amazon is working on exclusives since they grabbed up the exclusive on Angry Birds Rio. Major developers like Gameloft, Handmark, and Glu Mobile are all supporting the Amazon offering.
Logitech has released a free Squeezebox Controller app for Android devices, allowing users to remotely control the company’s multi-room streaming audio system. Operating over WiFi, the app allows music-lovers to remotely browse, select and control playlists and tracks in all of their zones.
It also supports files, station, or playlist album art. You’ll obviously need some Squeezebox kit to start with, but the controller app itself is a free download from the Android Market.
HTC just can’t seem to keep the Pyramid in its box ahead of the Android 2.4 Gingerbread smartphone’s official debut at CTIA 2011 this week; first we saw the back, with the unibody-style chassis and 8-megapixel camera with dual-LED flash, and now it’s the front that’s been spotted. Up close to an HTC Desire HD in GSMArena‘s picture, the Pyramid appears to have a higher-resolution display, going by the narrower menu bar.
That would fit in with rumors of a qHD display, like the Motorola ATRIX 4G, running at 960 x 540 rather than the more common WVGA 800 x 480. We’ve been asking for higher-resolution Android devices for ages now, so if so this could be a welcome change from HTC.
Inside we’re expecting a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 768MB of RAM and the usual bevy of connectivity, along with the latest version of Sense.
Sprint’s imminent HTC EVO View 4G tablet and HTC EVO 3D smartphone have been previewed on the company’s own site, with a little promotional URL fiddling revealing pre-interest pages for both devices. No official specifications have been given, but we already know plenty about these two models.
The HTC EVO View 4G is Sprint’s version of the HTC Flyer, with a 1.5GHz single-core processor, 7-inch display and a special active stylus for handwriting recognition. It will also include 4G WiMAX connectivity, and has a new black casing rather than the GSM version’s white finish.
As for the HTC EVO 3D, that’s expected to have a 1.2GHz dual-core processor and be capable of showing 3D images on a glasses-free display. Full specs here.
T-Mobile has confirmed official pricing for the incoming Sidekick 4G, the first handset in the popular messaging line to use Android as its OS. The T-Mobile Sidekick 4G will be priced at $99.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate on a qualifying plan with unlimited data, assuming you’re content with a two-year agreement.
Alternatively, T-Mobile will be offering the slider smartphone for $149.99 with a qualifying plan including data (such as the Web – 200MB plan) on a two-year agreement. Handy for those who don’t expect to use so much data during the lifetime of the device, but a little more expensive up-front.
We’ll be checking out the Sidekick 4G at CTIA 2011 this week, to see how well it follows in the footsteps of its popular predecessors. No word on exact release dates at this stage.
T-Mobile USA has officially priced the T-Mobile G-Slate by LG, which will drop at $529.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate. A two-year voice and data plan will be mandatory to get that subsidized price on the 8.9-inch slate, however.
That’s unlike the other Android 3.0 Honeycomb tablet we’ve seen, the Motorola XOOM, which only requires a data plan. Still, the G-Slate can record 3D HD video using its dual camera array, and will come with Need for Speed SHIFT HD and other apps preloaded.
No official word on the exact release date, but last we heard T-Mobile was readying the G-Slate for a debut on April 20. We’ll be checking it – and the G2x – out at CTIA this week.
Press Release:
T-Mobile G-Slate with Google by LG:
Powered by Android 3.0 (Honeycomb), the G-Slate delivers a premium mobile entertainment experience with a brilliant 8.9-inch, 3D-capable, multitouch HD display and the ability to record 3D and full HD video. With the new G-Slate, customers can access their favorite TV shows, magazines, games and more with pre-installed applications such as T-Mobile TV, Need for Speed SHIFT HD and Zinio eReader. The T-Mobile G-Slate will cost $529.99 after $100 mail-in-rebate card with a qualifying mobile broadband plan on two-year agreement, voice line and enrollment in EasyPay.
While T-Mobile is soon to be called AT&T-Mobile because of the recent acquisition by AT&T they are still going to be pushing hard with new and upcoming devices. Reports are saying that it will be business as usual and they will continue to play hard-ball with the competition. Making things even better for everyone, they just announced the new G2x, a Google Experience device that is made by LG. Today is the announcement but last week we heard news of an April 20th release.
This is exciting news and I am very happy to hear they will be keeping it up. The move to AT&T will take at least 12-18 months so anyone wanting to upgrade (like me) might as well upgrade if a beautiful phone like the G2x is available. I might get it myself, and knowing me I will upgrade to something else in 4-8 months anyways so the takeover is of no concern for me.
Note that the image on T-mobile.com shows Android 2.2 FroYo on the photo-shopped image. We expect the device to ship with Android 2.3 or 2.4 when it finally is released. For those that don’t know much about the G2x (aka Optimus 2x). It is a sweet phone by LG that will feature top tier specs such as the Nvidia Tegra 2 CPU 1 Ghz dual core chip, a 8MP rear and 1.3MP front camera, 1080p HD recording, HDMI out, a 4″ Display with LG’s bright technology and more.
With T-Mobile still rolling out 4G everywhere and upgrading some locations to the HSPA+ 21 Mbps network. Places such as Chicago, NY, and Las Vegas have just got the new 42 Mbps upgrade. The G2x will be a full 4G device so expect it to be blazing fast. This phone will most definitely be a fast little bugger with 4G, Dual Core, as well as the “Pure Google” OS and I can’t wait to get my paws on it and give it a run for it’s money. We will be sure to update you all with more as it comes in.
It really surprised us when there was no notification light already embedded into the Samsung Nexus S, and even more-so after we realized how dependent we were on it from the Nexus One (and countless other HTC devices). If you are up to rooting your device, then you can take advantage of the backlight notification integration (BMI) released by neldar from XDA Developers. Developer Morfic has ported neldar’s work to the Nexus S and it seems to be working flawlessly.
This is not the standard notification LED we are used to seeing on many other smartphones, it is simply a pulsing of the lights behind the lower soft keys. Our very own Simms22 from the forums has uploaded a video of it in action, and can be found here. This modification is now embedded into both of Morfic’s current kernals Honity12 and Honity14, so if you feel like giving this a try, tell us how it works for you! Be sure to download the BLN Control application from them market, as this is required for it to work properly.
What you’re seeing below is a couple of shots of presentation panels that very obviously shouldn’t have been photographed yet. This is the Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9, a device that appears very much to be running Honeycomb with Samsung’s own UX on top, a “personalized homescreen”, stocked full of stuff you’ll more than likely want to turn off: buddies now, agenda, email, weather, news, stock, gallery, date, and bookmark. Maybe emails you’ll keep. Either way, the device, the device! Look at this sassy mother.
This device, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 will almost certainly be revealed in full at tomorrow’s Samsung event which we’ll definitely be at front and center. This is a tablet that’ll join the ranks of a very iPad and XOOM market, depending on how you see it, and will more than likely make the original Samsung Galaxy Tab look like a dinosaur fossil of a lunchtray.
This device will be utilizing, obviously, an 8.9inch screen, a 470g weight body, 1280 x 800 WXGA touchscreen, and they’re saying it’ll be speedy! Perhaps the 1GHz dual core processor. They’re saying, and its written, that this tablet will have PC-like performance. What does that mean? We’ll see tomorrow.
Just looking at the sweet dual screen design of the Kyocera Echo, it’s easy to see the potential. More real estate means more capability for apps. And being a dual, split screen can also mean more specific development that needs to be done on Android apps it will use. Kyocera knows it, so they’re enacting a program to entice more app developers to create content for the dual screen platform. Developers will have access to the Echo Software Development Kit and other tools which will enable them to optimize their apps for the dual screen platform.
Kyocera already has received strong support from many well-known members of the Android developer community. The developers are creating and/or optimizing applications and features spanning across multiple popular categories including gaming, social networking, location-based services (LBS), mobile entertainment and productivity.
Out of the box, the Echo comes with a handful of apps that are specifically geared to take advantage of dual screen use. YouTube’s application, for example, has been reworked so that users can watch a video on one screen, while searching on another. And while all Android Apps are supported by the Echo, Sprint and Kyocera are hoping that developers will create custom apps which showcase the Echo’s dual screen capability. I can already hope that someone will create an app to rival the iMovie iPhone app, but that will take advantage of those dual screens. And since the Echo’s dual screens can be used either together, or independently, there’s plenty opportunity for what Kyocera is calling "Simul-tasking™” or even game play options that are currently not being used.
The Kyocera Echo is being marketed as the world’s first dual screen Android handset. It’s dual 3.5 inch WVGA screens are connected by a three dimensional pivot hinge, and can be worked independently, or combined for a 4.7-inch (diagonal) integrated display. It is powered by a single-core 1GHz Snapdragon processor and will be running Android 2.2 (Froyo) out of the box. It has a 5 MP rear facing camera capable of shooting 720p HD video with autofocus and digital zoom and with it’s external microSD card it can handle storage up to 32 GB. The Echo will be available through Sprint starting in April for $199 on a two year contract.
Kyocera Launches Android Developer Program, Attracts Leading Application Developers to Support the New Dual-Touchscreen Kyocera Echo Smartphone
First Dual-Touchscreen Smartphone to Debut at Sprint on April 17 with Optimized Applications Available from Industry Leaders Including EA, Gameloft, Namco Bandai, MobiTV, Jibe Mobile, Telenav and More CTIA WIRELESS 2011
ORLANDO, Fla.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Kyocera Communications Inc. today announced the formal launch of the Kyocera Android Developer Program at the CTIA Wireless 2011 trade show. The announcement follows last month's introduction of the Kyocera Echo™, the first dual-touchscreen smartphone, which will launch exclusively at Sprint (NYSE:S) on April 17. The Developer Program, hosted at www.echobykyocera.com/developers, includes a software development kit (SDK) and additional materials to support the creation of Android™ applications optimized for Echo's dual-touchscreen platform.
"Echo supports virtually all applications available from Android Market, yet we're excited to see so many developers embracing the new format and optimizing existing and new applications for the dual displays."
Kyocera already has received strong support from many well-known members of the Android developer community. The developers are creating and/or optimizing applications and features spanning across multiple popular categories including gaming, social networking, location-based services (LBS), mobile entertainment and productivity.
* Gaming – Kyocera Echo's dual touchscreens are ideally suited for action-packed mobile gaming. Game play can span the top 3.5-inch display with controls accessible through the bottom display or a game can expand over both displays in "Tablet Mode" for double the fun. Kyocera is working with some of the industry's most popular companies to create unique gaming experiences, including: o The Sims™ 3 from Electronic Arts: Bringing the worldwide popularity of The Sims™ franchise to the Kyocera Echo gives consumers instant access to the award-winning The Sims 3 from Electronic Arts. The Sims 3 is preloaded on the Kyocera Echo allowing players to bring their Sim instantly to life with a customized personality that can be neurotic, funny or shy along with personalized appearances, clothing and accessories. Players decide their Sim's character making them flirtations or solitary, friendly or rude, helpful or unaccommodating. Players fulfill their Sim's essential needs such as eating and sleeping to increase the amount of activities they can do around town. Optimized for the dual screens by using one display for game action and the other for controls, The Sims 3 players lead their Sim through life with over 70 goals and wishes to help each Sim reach their full potential. Long live The Sims! o Gameloft: A preloaded icon links to a Gameloft download site, which will, over the course of the launch period, feature six games optimized for the dual touchscreens: Asphalt 6: Adrenaline HD, Assassins Creed™ Altaïr's Chronicles HD, N.O.V.A.- Near Orbit Vanguard Alliance HD, Modern Combat 2: Black Pegasus, Spider-Man: Total Mayhem and Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Conviction. o NAMCO BANDAI™ Games America: A preloaded icon links to Namco’s digital marketplace, which will initially feature four games optimized for Echo's dual displays: PAC-MAN, Pool Pro Online 3, More Brain Exercise with Dr. Kawashima and Crush the Castle.
* Social Networking – Kyocera Echo's dual touchscreens mean maximum posting, sharing and tweeting space! The device, preloaded with the Jibe 2.0 Social Messenger app by Jibe Mobile, brings together social media and instant messaging to simplify mobile conversations and facilitate sharing across multiple social media networks including Facebook®, MySpace, Twitter™, Google Talk™, YouTube™, Flickr® and Picasa™. The Jibe solution provides customized news feeds and media channels with interactive sharing, allowing users to read, post and share messages and information with just one application. News junkies can post messages or add comments to multiple SNS (social network services) feeds with a single action and view friends' messages from various services on one application filtered by time, person or service. * Mobile Entertainment – An optimized version of Sprint TV®, powered by MobiTV, Inc.'s technology platform, gives users access to live and VOD content from ESPN, NBC, ABC and more, using one display as a viewer and the other display for controls. mSpot® provides Sprint Radio, preloaded on Kyocera Echo, rounding out the entertainment experience on the handset. Additional mobile entertainment customized for the dual screens will be available post-launch.
* Location-Based Services (LBS) – The first mobile device preloaded with the "Sparkle"™ platform from Location Labs, Kyocera Echo will give users on-demand location access to family finder, social gaming, fraud detection, phone detection, mobile marketing and more. Additionally, TeleNav GPS Navigator™ takes advantage of the device's dual screens, allowing users to display maps and traffic on one screen while accessing search or other controls on the other display. Alternatively, users can simply extend navigation over both screens for maximum viewing space. * Productivity – Swype™, the 'superfast' text entry technology, allows users to input text at more than 40 words per minute with one continuous finger motion and has been customized for Kyocera Echo, giving users a supersized touchscreen keypad spanning an entire 3.5-inch display.
"Kyocera Echo's unique design gives third-party developers a new opportunity to enhance and showcase the full functionality of their applications, without being restricted by screen space," said Yasuhiro Ohishi, vice president of sales and marketing at Kyocera Communications Inc. "Echo supports virtually all applications available from Android Market, yet we're excited to see so many developers embracing the new format and optimizing existing and new applications for the dual displays."
Kyocera Echo – first dual-touchscreen Android™ smartphone
With innovative hardware and optimized software Echo provides 4-in-1 versatility to maximize the Android experience. When closed, Echo operates in Single-Screen Mode for full smartphone functionality; Simul-Task™ Mode allows for two of the phone's seven core apps (messaging, e-mail, Web browsing, phone, gallery, contacts and VueQue™) to run concurrently but independently on the dual displays; Optimized Mode lets both displays support a single, optimized app with complementary functionality and enhanced usability; and Tablet Mode expands an application across both displays for a full 4.7-inch viewing area (diagonally).
Kyocera Echo is available on April 17, exclusively from Sprint, for $199* with a new two-year service agreement or eligible upgrade in all Sprint retail channels, including the Web (www.sprint.com) and Telesales (1-800-Sprint1). Beginning March 26, consumers can visit www.sprint.com/echo to “Reserve Now” and be among of the first to get their hands on Echo. Additional information about the product is available at www.echobykyocera.com.
About Kyocera Communications Inc.
Kyocera Communications Inc. (KCI) is the headquarters for Kyocera- and Sanyo-branded wireless products and accessories in the Americas. The company’s devices are driving the convergence of telecommunications, broadband and multimedia. KCI was formed in April 2009 through the combination of Kyocera Wireless Corp. and Kyocera Sanyo Telecommunications Inc., two wholly owned subsidiaries of Kyocera International Inc. The former was created when Kyocera purchased QUALCOMM Incorporated’s consumer wireless phone business in 2000, while the latter was formed when Kyocera purchased the wireless phone business of Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. in 2008. Based in San Diego, KCI leverages Japan’s history of creating advanced consumer technologies around humanism and respect for the environment and blending them with a Western entrepreneurialism and style, resulting in a unique design language and a natural, user-friendly interface. For more information, please visit http://www.kyocera-wireless.com or follow the company on Facebook at www.facebook.com/kyoceramobilephones.
Kyocera Corporation (NYSE:KYO) (TOKYO:6971) (http://global.kyocera.com/), the parent and global headquarters of the Kyocera Group, was founded in 1959 as a producer of fine ceramics (also known as “advanced ceramics”). By combining these engineered materials with metals and plastics, and integrating them with other technologies, Kyocera has become a leading supplier of telecommunications equipment, office-document imaging equipment, solar power generating systems, semiconductor packages, electronic components, cutting tools and industrial ceramics. During the year ended March 31, 2010, the company’s net sales totaled 1.07 trillion yen (approximately US $11.5 billion). Kyocera marked its 50th anniversary in 2009, and the 40th anniversary of its U.S. operations. It is ranked #554 on Forbes magazine’s 2010 “Global 2000″ listing of the world’s largest publicly traded companies.
NOTE TO EDITORS: Please visit toolkit.kyocera-wireless.com or www.sprint.com/newsroom for the product fact sheet and downloadable images.
*Requires a two-year service agreement or eligible upgrade (or new line activation) on an Everything plan with data plus $10/month Premium Data add-on. Pricing excludes surcharges and taxes.
Kyocera Communications Inc. John Chier, (858) 882-3543 john.chier@kyocera.com or LPI Communications for Kyocera Communications Inc. Melody Parrette, (858) 361-9731 melody@lpicommunications.com
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