Android Community |
- Samsung Galaxy Nexus/Prime to offer a QWERTY keyboard version [Rumor]
- Meizu MX could be first Android quad-core smartphone
- Samsung Galaxy Nexus coming before the DROID Prime
- LG Optimus 3D CyanogenMod 7 Alpha now available
- Amazon AppStore now live outside the US
- Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 WiFi gets official US listing/price
- Motorola’s 7-inch XOOM caught in wild
- Pantech Breakout brings $100 LTE to Verizon
- LG Optimus Q2 revealed: Super-bright QWERTY slider
- HTC October 6 event could deliver Euro HTC Vigor
- LG grabs Street Fighter IV for HD phones in Q4
- Google Wallet launching today tips leak
- Android Ice Cream Sandwich Confirmed by NI for October
- Samsung Galaxy S II Epic 4G Touch Review
| Samsung Galaxy Nexus/Prime to offer a QWERTY keyboard version [Rumor] Posted: 19 Sep 2011 11:33 AM PDT Just like I said earlier about the Droid Prime and Galaxy Nexus rumors earlier today, they will continue to drop as the days and weeks get closer. In another random tweet by the recently popular Tom at @tfleming223 we may have just received another tip about the upcoming Galaxy Nexus, or DROID Prime but more details are after the break.
After tons of tweets by Tom and his sidekick all weekend regarding a Samsung DROID Prime, Galaxy Nexus and an exclusive launch on Verizon coming November 3rd. He has now hinted at a built-in QWERTY keyboard version of this highly rumored smartphone. Again this is just a rumor, but both Tom and @black_man_x have been known in the past to have accurate information so I’m going to still take this with a few grains of salt, but imagine the possibility.
As if he’s had some hands-on with both of the devices today he tweeted, “The one with the keyboard is what I enjoy". Leaving us all to start another round of rumors and speculation that we may see a QWERTY keyboard version of the next superphone. With a dual-core processor, Android 2.4 Ice Cream Sandwich, and a 1280 x 720p HD display that would be one superphone indeed. I have a feeling we will see some sort of Samsung slider coming to multiple carriers again soon. With ICS being a touchscreen only OS with no hardware buttons what would you really want a keyboard for, other than typing easily? Rumors followed by more rumors is what we have here, but I figured you’d all love to hear about another possibility. Although I personally have no use for a QWERTY keyboard powered smartphone, I know many readers still do. Take this as you will and let your mind wander. – Thanks cheese [via Twitter] )
|
| Meizu MX could be first Android quad-core smartphone Posted: 19 Sep 2011 11:11 AM PDT New details are now available regarding the Meizu MX we first mentioned back in August. This quad-core powered Android superphone was said to be coming late September in a 16GB dual-core variety, as well as a 32GB quad-core beast and now we have more details and a release date.
Meizu, the company responsible for the iPhone-esque M9 is now all set to release their quad-core Meizu MX smartphone running on Android, sadly this is most likely only for the Chinese markets. What we are hearing is a 4.3″ qHD 540 x 960 display, a Cortex-A9 quad-core processor and 32GB of internal storage.
Like we mentioned above, sadly this will debut in China with a 32GB version for ¥4,999 ($780) and 16GB version for ¥3,999 ($625). We are hoping to hear more details and maybe, just maybe a US release but that is highly unlikely. We don’t have any other specs regarding the front or rear camera, Android version, or anything else at the moment but it should be available shortly. I do know that hearing qHD and quad-core in the same sentence with a September/October release date gets me very excited. I might just have to import one of these bad boys here to the US and give it a whirl. [via Engadget Chinese] )
|
| Samsung Galaxy Nexus coming before the DROID Prime Posted: 19 Sep 2011 10:41 AM PDT I almost don’t even know where to start. We’ve heard so many rumors regarding this upcoming device lately that things are starting to get a bit out of hand. First off, we are now hearing the Samsung Galaxy Nexus will launch come November 3rd, on Verizon Wireless. They are known for launching devices on Thursday so this could be somewhat accurate. New rumors are also claiming the Galaxy Nexus will come first, and will not be the DROID Prime, more details after the break.
The DROID Prime name could very well be what we see soon from Verizon and Samsung, but it may be the DROID Charge 2. With the Samsung Galaxy Nexus being a Google device that comes first and will be the first phone with Google’s Android 2.4 Ice Cream Sandwich. Now obviously this could all be real, or very much faked. Take everything with a grain of salt for now until things develop further. The November 3rd launch date comes from a few tricky guys we all know plenty about over on Twitter. @black_man_X and his friend Tom using @tflemming223 put out a nice little poem over the weekend regarding the next Nexus and here is the poem in full:
Sounds like we will be seeing a release of the next Nexus from multiple carriers, but Verizon should get the initial exclusive (if the rumors are true). That along with some regret for those seeking the next iDevice. We could go on forever regarding both the Poem, and the information from the source linked to below, but it’s all still just speculation. Devices and release dates are always subject to change, rumors will continue to drop, and details will remain tight. Obviously take all of this with a grain of salt until something more concrete surfaces. Although @black_man_x has had inside information multiple times regarding devices from Verizon there seems to be a lot of confusion still with these upcoming phones so I think I’ll just sit back and enjoy the show. What do you guys think? [via TheDroidGuy] )
|
| LG Optimus 3D CyanogenMod 7 Alpha now available Posted: 19 Sep 2011 09:47 AM PDT In what developers are calling “Almost CyanogenMod” the LG Optimus 3D has just received the first alpha build for CM7. Available right now for users to flash and enjoy all the treats that the developers of CyanogenMod bring to our devices. The Optimus 3D is also known as the AT&T LG Thrill 4G and this should work across both device models.
The developers from CyanogenMod have been keeping up with most of the popular devices as of late, as long as the bootloaders aren’t completely locked down. We’ve seen development for the glasses-free LG Optimus a few times in the past as well as a teaser video shown here. As usual with any alpha build this is not yet complete, there may be issues or things not fully working, but it should be completely stable enough for daily use. According to RootzWiki the CM7 build for the O3D seems stable but HDMI is broken, capturing images in 3D still has a few quirks that need worked out, and wireless tethering has a few problems too. These are expected to be fixed shortly as most things do in the world of CyanogenMod. Teaser video of CM7 on the Optimus 3D If you’d like continued news and updates, or would like to thank the developer working hard on the Optimus 3D feel free to head over to Google+ and say hello and give thanks to Ricardo Cerqueira (aka CM_arcee). For those like me that love all things CM7, you should also check out CyanogenMod booting on the DROID Bionic. Give this alpha build of CM7 for the Optimus 3D a try and leave any thoughts or suggestions in the comment section below. More details are available at RootzWiki. Device Info
Display
Dimension & Weight
Battery & Power
Software
Hardware
 Cellular Network
Device Connectivity
 [via RootzWiki] )
|
| Amazon AppStore now live outside the US Posted: 19 Sep 2011 09:08 AM PDT The popular Amazon AppStore appears to have finally received the green light outside of the US although quietly as we’ve not heard much from Amazon. We are now seeing reports from multiple sources with places such as the Netherlands, parts of UK, and even reports from India too. So far it seems it’s live and working.
While this is indeed good news, many users have reported to still be having issues and are unable to use or download apps from the Amazon AppStore. We have pinged Amazon to see if we can get some answers but for now it sounds like they might be at the beginning of the roll out process for some other markets. We should be hearing more details regarding possible markets and future availability of the Amazon AppStore outside the US soon so be sure and stay tuned. For now we are still unsure if these new markets will also get access to the “Free App of the Day” that has helped make Amazon so popular and successful as of late. This is most likely part of the broader picture for Amazon and their upcoming Android tablet. For now users can download the Amazon AppStore by clicking here. Make sure to uncheck the “install from unknown sources” tab and give the Amazon Appstore a try. Feel free to leave comments as well as location in the comment section below so we can keep track of the app market as it rolls out. [via SlashGear] )
|
| Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 WiFi gets official US listing/price Posted: 19 Sep 2011 07:48 AM PDT Samsung US has officially priced the Galaxy Tab 8.9 WiFi tablet, with the 8.9-inch Honeycomb slate being available from $469 and said to be “coming soon.” Both 16GB and 32GB versions of the tablet are listed, priced at $469 and $569 respectively.
Specifications are just as we’ve seen before, which means Android 3.1 Honeycomb running on NVIDIA’s dual-core Tegra 2 processor with Samsung’s own TouchWiz modifications. There’s a 2-megapixel camera on the front and a 3-megapixel camera on the back, but unlike the 3G versions only WiFi to get you online. That all matches up with Best Buy’s listings from last week, with the retailer suggesting that the Galaxy Tab 8.9 would arrive sometime later this month. An LTE version is also expected for some regions, tipped to launch later in 2011, though exact availability is unconfirmed. [Thanks Paul!] )
|
| Motorola’s 7-inch XOOM caught in wild Posted: 19 Sep 2011 07:10 AM PDT An image of what appears to be Motorola’s 7-inch version of the XOOM has leaked, presumably the same compact tablet CEO Sanjay Jha promised was in the pipeline earlier this year. No specifications in the image sent to This is my next, but the slimline slate does appear to have the Motorola logo – or something like it – in the top corner, and be running Android Honeycomb’s camera app.
As for connectivity, while we’re guessing that WiFi, Bluetooth and 3G/4G are all likely additions, the only thing visible at the moment are two ports on the lower edge. They, it’s suggested, are microUSB and microHDMI. If authentic, gone are the chunky stylings of the original XOOM, to be replaced by an angled aesthetic more in keeping with the Photon 4G. No word on when, exactly, this new Motorola might hit the market, nor indeed what the chunky device in the upper right-hand corner might be. )
|
| Pantech Breakout brings $100 LTE to Verizon Posted: 19 Sep 2011 06:51 AM PDT Pantech’s budget 4G LTE smartphone, the Breakout, has been officially announced for Verizon, where it will go on sale come September 22. Priced at $99.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate and assuming a new, two-year agreement, the Pantech Breakout has a 4-inch WVGA display and a 1GHz processor.
There’s also WiFi b/g/n and Bluetooth 3.0, along with a 5-megapixel camera capable of up to 720p HD video recording. A front-facing webcam runs at VGA resolution for video calls, while there’s an 8GB microSD card preloaded out of the box. OS is Android 2.3 Gingerbread, and Verizon preinstalls Swype for easier text entry along with a mobile hotspot app capable of supporting up to 10 devices simultaneously. At under a ton, it’s certainly one of the cheapest ways to get Android and LTE in the same package, but we can’t help but think that most users would be better off spending a little more upfront for something like the DROID BIONIC. While that has a $200 larger sticker price, true, that’s not much amortized over the course of the contract, and you’re getting a faster, more impressive device all round.    [via SlashGear] )
|
| LG Optimus Q2 revealed: Super-bright QWERTY slider Posted: 19 Sep 2011 05:46 AM PDT LG has unveiled its latest Android smartphone, the LG Optimus Q2, a QWERTY-toting slider with a 4-inch WVGA IPS display and a 5-megapixel camera. Running a 1.2GHz processor, the Optimus Q2′s real draw is the display, which LG says runs at an eye-searing 700 nits.
There’s also WiFi Direct support, Bluetooth and a front-facing video camera. The phone is 12.3mm thick and weighs 147g, and LG says its shrunk down the dimensions of the slide section by 2mm compared to previous smartphones from the company with the same form-factor. It’s unclear which version of Android is loaded, but LG has done some fiddling with its own UI system. South Korea will be able to pick up the LG Optimus Q2 from next weekend, though there’s no sign of a price or a release date for international markets.     )
|
| HTC October 6 event could deliver Euro HTC Vigor Posted: 19 Sep 2011 03:22 AM PDT The HTC Vigor could make its official debut in early October, with the news that HTC UK is sending out invites for a “press conference and party” on October 6. While the company has told us it cannot confirm details about the event – and asked that we not mention where in London it will take place – the language indicates this will be another of the company’s high-profile public events.
Saved for the firm’s more significant launches, and usually announced at the HTC UK Facebook page, these parties give would-be buyers a chance to play with new smartphones well ahead of retail availability. Although the early October timeline could indicate Windows Phone 7 related news, the fact that HTC has already announced its new Mango-based line-up suggests it’s Android that’s on the cards. Most likely candidate, then, is the HTC Vigor, which is expected to see the company debut a 4.3-inch 1280 x 720 HD-capable display. Running what’s believed to be the same 1.5GHz dual-core Qualcomm processor as in the new Sensation XE, in addition to an 8-megapixel main camera, the Vigor has been described to Android Community as the first HTC handset to include Beats Audio in its design “from the ground up.” Update: To be clear, we’re talking about a European version of the Vigor, seeing as that specific handset is expected to be a Verizon CDMA model. Update 2: Reader Carl suggests it could be the European HTC Bass that HTC is revealing, though that handset is expected to be unveiled in the US tomorrow. [via SlashGear] )
|
| LG grabs Street Fighter IV for HD phones in Q4 Posted: 19 Sep 2011 02:37 AM PDT LG’s first HD Android smartphones are expected to arrive in Q4, bringing with them classic game Street Fighter IV thanks to a new deal with CAPCOM. The agreement will see LG have three months exclusivity to the title, which will be distributed via the handset manufacturer’s own site rather than, it seems, through the Android Market.
“As we prepare our first HD smartphone for launch, it was important for us to be able to offer HD content that would really demonstrate this phone's benefits” LG Mobile president and CEO Dr. Jong-seok Park explains. ”The HD version of Street Fighter certainly fills this objective. We are also confident that LG's soon-to-be-unveiled HD display technology will give Street Fighter fans a whole new reason to play the game again.” Unfortunately there’s no further detail on the HD smartphones themselves, though leaks earlier in the year suggested that the LG Prada K2 would have a 4.3-inch HD NOVA Display, an 8-megapixel main camera and a front-facing 1.3-megapixel camera. LG recently showed off a 4.5-inch 1280 x 720 panel, with an iPhone 4-challenging 329ppi pixel density. [via MobileBulgaria] )
|
| Google Wallet launching today tips leak Posted: 19 Sep 2011 01:41 AM PDT About four months ago, Google had announced Google Wallet, a NFC-based payment system. Today, Techcrunch has just released an image of internal documentation indicating an official launch for the service for today, September 19.
The news of this release date following the video of George Costanza discovering Google Wallet which can be found here. Constanza’s famous wallet which has been shown on the show Seinfield to give him back pain for its ridiculous size. In the video, the star of Seinfield is shown discovering Google Wallet and having the contents of his oversize wallets overflow into the streets. Google Wallet, which has already been demonstrated to work on a Nexus S 4G to purchase pants from American Eagle, is hoped to introduce NFC payments to mainstream consumers. Google, who plans to have over half of all Android phones to be equipped with NFC, has partnered with big name brands such as macy's, Subway, Walgreens, Toys R' Us, and American Eagle in addition to over 100,000 other stores in the US to bring NFC nationwide. Further adding validity to the launch date, the launch of Google Wallet tomorrow would also align itself with the start of the NFC World Congress in France. The NFC World Congress, intended to further the development of NFC markets, would present the perfect stage for the launch of the service. )
|
| Android Ice Cream Sandwich Confirmed by NI for October Posted: 18 Sep 2011 11:53 AM PDT It’s difficult to take the folks at Notion Ink seriously after all we’ve heard from them, confirmations that turned out flat, a device whose insides certainly did not end up pretty, and stories of them leaving their customers in the dark the moment their device was shipped and the money was in the bank. Oh the other hand, they haven’t disappeared completely quite yet, and Rohan Shravan, their face, has a bit to say about Ice Cream Sandwich that may end up being dipped in truth sauce when it comes down to it. The key sentence: “Official ("update button") Ice Cream Sandwich update in November after Google's launch in late Oct”. Did Shravan just leak the launch date of the next Android treat?
Shravan may have done one of two things here. First, he could have some sort of insider knowledge of the future and he could be speaking with Google reps on the phone daily. This is a whole heck of a lot less likely than the second possibility: Shravan is able to use the internet and frequents sites like Android Community where he read the headline Ice Cream Sandwich coming October of November says Eric Schmidt. He’s also probably following news on the Nexus Prime like every other Android fan on the planet and happened across the story that noted in addition to its possible 1.5 Ghz dual-core processor, it’d have an October release alongside Ice Cream Sandwich. Shravan does have a few more ideas though perhaps based in well-read near-reality. The first of these is that, as he says, “if you go by the industry signals, OMAP is the preferred platform for the next wave of devices.” He adds that OMAP will also “see ICS” before Tegra. This is certainly not the first time we’ve heard that Google would team with Texas Instruments for OMAP4, and since NVIDIA’s Tegra 2 dual-core processor was the hero for Google’s Honeycomb release (see: Motorola XOOM), we can assume that Google will be giving another group a chance at glory this time around. Fair is fair! What do you think – should Notion Ink’s people be trusted? They DID give us the heads up on Gingerbread basically before anyone else in the world, after all. Perhaps we’re good to go for late October! Now the question is – or remains – will you wait for the Nexus Prime, or will you hit up either the DROID BIONIC or the Samsung Galaxy S II? [via NotionInk] )
|
| Samsung Galaxy S II Epic 4G Touch Review Posted: 18 Sep 2011 11:11 AM PDT Welcome to the United States, Galaxy S II, I see you’ve got the longest name in the history of smartphones here in your initial iteration! Don’t worry, though, it’s nothing to be afraid of – you’re still the thinnest 4G device on any and every carrier you’ll be on here in the states, and with this first launch on the WiMAX carrying carrier, you’re round and lovely as well. The Epic 4G Touch has what many might call the most unique look to it of all the Galaxy S II devices out thus far, having a 4.5-inch display, the roundest edges in a Galaxy S II thus far, and almost spherical back corners with a textured battery cover. Four buttons at the bottom and it’s lost its international single-center-button charm, will it add up to the legends we’ve heard of this device as it’s been out for the past few months in Europe in Asia?
Before we go any further, I’ve got to let you know that we’ve already had a hands-on experience with this device more than once. You’ll be seeing these hands-on experiences throughout the review, starting first here with our first NYC look at the device right after it was launched by Samsung: You can see the entire post in which we first laid eyes on this device back at the end of August then come on back to see the final product. HardwareThe first time we laid eyes on a Galaxy S II, it was Chris Davies’ turn to behold the device as it was released in Europe with no particular carrier attached. He did a full review of the international edition and it remains one of the most popular reviews of said smartphone on the internet. We’ve been hungry for this device for months now, MONTHS I tell you, and now that we’ve got it, it’s a must that we compare it to the original. Thusly we present a gallery for your approval. You’ll see both the original device (as Vincent Nguyen has it over on our sister site SlashGear) and our Galaxy S II Epic 4G Touch.    The main and first most obvious difference between the two devices you’ll see here is the display size. While both devices have Samsung’s Super AMOLED Plus display bringing the hella brightness, we’ve got a 4.52-inch screen instead of just 4.3-inches. That said, it’s still using a WVGA 800 x 480 pixel display which means there’s, yes, just as many pixels as before but on a bigger panel. Earlier this month we also got to see what’s to be known as the Samsung Galaxy Note, a device with pixel density to spare on a much larger display – we’re a bit jealous, as all gadget addicts are prone to be, of this bigger, brighter, sharper display, but when it comes down to it, a Galaxy S II no matter what version beats out the competitions’ displays almost hands-down.
This version of the device, again, features only a few different buttons, those being the four dedicated Android menu buttons below the display in portrait mode, a volume up/down up along the left-hand side of the device below a dongle-hole, a headphone jack on top, a power/lock button on the right, and a microUSB port on the bottom. On the back there’s a single LED flash 8-megapixel camera capable of recording in up to 1080p HD video, while on the front there’s a cool 2-megapixel camera made specifically for video calls (though it’s able to take video and photos as well) ready for instant use.
There’s another device out there that’s similar to this one, that being the Infuse 4G from AT&T. This device has slightly sharper edges, again, similar to the original GSII, and the same specs all around essentially save for the processor. While the SoC on the Infuse 4G is only a single core at 1.2GHz, the Galaxy S II (and the Epic 4G Touch version) offer twice as much at 1.2GHz dual core, and that’s the Samsung Exynos dual-core processor which means you’ll be busting up pretty much the whole of your competition’s similar processor power. If you’ve used the Infuse in the past, you’ll note that the Epic 4G Touch does feel the slightest bit more substantial, and of course there’s the matter of the software inside. While the Infuse has TouchWiz, it’s not the newest version to come out with this newest set of Galaxy S II devices. We’ll talk more about this in the Software section below.
As for connections you’ve got Bluetooth 3.0, EVDO Rev.A support, WiMAX, Wi-fi a/b/g/n, standard headphone connection jack, and your microUSB port. This port at the bottom of your device is no standard port, mind you, it supports MHL, which means that if you’ve got your standard Samsung MHL converter cord, you can output to HDMI with some above-average fantastically HD 1080p video. Software and PerformanceSamsung has provided the new run of Galaxy S II devices with a relatively new look at their TouchWiz interface, providing TouchWiz 4.0 here with a new flavor made specifically for this USA release. You’ll get all your favorite Google apps plus a few carrier-added bloatware apps and Samsung’s own lovely selection of sharing and cloud-based apps, as well as the Samsung App Hub which could very well be providing us with free awesome apps in the near future.      In the video below you’ll see Samsung's Vice President of Consumer & Enterprise Services Gavin Kim presenting the new features available on the Galaxy S II USA launch, this presentation filmed by yours truly in NYC when they showed off all three new versions of the handset. Notice how he’s using his MHL link to show this all off via HDMI. Neato! You’ll be working with the Media Hub more than likely as well as the Social Hub here in this newest offering from Samsung, as both have been updated to the fullest to bring you the group’s newest vision for both media (music and video) sales and social media network viewing. Download a bit of video and play it over HDMI, check out your social feeds all in one place for perfect convenience. We’re still hoping for Google+ integration for the Social Hub, by the way, guys, bring it!
That said, Kies Air is offered here again, it being one of the greatest Samsung-made apps on the market. With this app you’ll be able to log into your Epic 4G touch completely remotely from any web browser and work with your contacts book, bookmarks in your web browser, photos, music, video, messages, everything your heart may desire. This is convenient for the power user as well as the brand new user, this being a potential big bump for new users to start using Android as, while the iPhone has iTunes to help them access their media from their PC, Google has no such alternative. Samsung, thinking ahead! Needless to say, the entire device is snappy as a whip, games and video and music working without a hitch. One of the most impressive bits we’ve noticed actually, again, comes through the MHL to HDMI connection, this playing files that are H.264, H.263, or MP4, are really rather brilliant to behold. Though the Galaxy S II doesn’t claim to be any more of an impressive video output machine than, say, the Infuse 4G, it certainly seems as though it is. Perhaps it’s my imagination.
Voice Talk is another app which comes right out of the box, this version powered by Lingo meaning it’s both high quality and because Samsung designed the interface, very easy to use. You can use this in tangent with your official Samsung Galaxy S II car dock for a rather simple experience getting around your city, town, or country. Hi Galaxy, you’ll say, get me where I want to go! You can see that car dock in the video below as well: Another less talked about app that deserves a bit of attention is the Video maker app. With this simple to use cut and edit tool you’ll be chopping off the pieces of the videos you’ve filmed with ease and turning them sepia, invert, of emboss them with just a tap or two. Intuitive and powerful, and won’t bog down your engine as a dual-core Exynos is more than ready to handle such work.
Next we’ve got a bit if information on benchmarking, and remember to check out our sister-site SlashGear’s results as well if you want a slightly different set of tests.
BenchmarkingFor benchmarks, I’m simply going to list the numbers that we’ve achieved in our tests, then if you want to see the images of the tests and the comparison to both the original Galaxy S II and the NYC pre-release version of the device, you can see that in our post entitled Samsung Galaxy S II Epic 4G Touch Benchmarks vs GSII Original vs SGSIIE4GT, an epic post indeed. What we’ve got going here is thus: Vellamo Score: 853
The power is there, the performance is there, this is, at least by the numbers, the greatest smartphone on the market today that we’ve thus tested – out of the box, that is. CameraThe camera, as you may have heard from Philip Berne above, shoots in 1080p at high profile which is a very low-compression high-quality “close to what you’d expect to find on like a Blu-ray video”. Take a look at the video below and see if your humble narrator took a nice enough video to do said video quality justice. Then for photos you’ll find that the device offers just as nice or nicer photos as any comparable top-tier smartphone with an 8-megapixel camera. Colors are accurate, several modes can be used, and the camera interface, believe it or not, is customizable, your options able to be set to the side of your camera screen viewer. Take the time to look at the camera interface in the newest Motorola devices like the Droid 3 and the DROID BIONIC, not to mention the myTouch 4G Slide, you’ll see that camera interfaces and the ability to take nice photos (and to a lesser degree, video) with your smartphone is turning up as quite the essential prerequisite for every handset.
Some photo examples in various conditions:    Battery and PhoneAs with essentially every single smartphone device we’ve tested over the past year or so, voice on-phone hasn’t been a problem whatsoever. Speakerphone performance here similarly has been loud and clear, a good thing now especially since we’ve got the Voice Talk app running that’ll act as the other end of our conversation from now on. Again, Voice Talk isn’t the first place we’ve ever seen voice commands, but it’s certainly being promoted here with good reason: it’s well made, has a simple interface, and it works.
As far as battery life, you’re going to have a full day’s use out of this device without a problem. Reviewers of the original Galaxy S II said they were surprised at how much time they got out of their handsets because they’d seen less than impressive life out of similarly powerful smartphones in the past. Here we’re beginning to expect a full day’s work out of a smartphone at least – and though we don’t always get it, it’s nice to see a phone with Galaxy in the name especially providing us with the full 24 hours without cutting out. That said, once you’ve got 4G activated or if you’re using the device as a mobile hotspot, expect your battery to last a whole lot less than a day – more like a few hours – but you’ve got a car charger, right?
Wrap-UpThis device is essentially the same as the original Samsung Galaxy S II spread out over a slightly larger screen (again, with the same amount of pixels) or nearly the same as the Infuse 4G which has the same amount of pixels and the same Super AMOLED Plus technology with a 4.5-inch display instead of a 4.52-inch display on the Epic 4G Touch – and of course, once more, the Infuse only has a single-core processor where the Galaxy S II models both have dual-core. Having the international edition of the device affords you GSM, aka the ability to slap in several different kinds of SIM cards wherever you may roam, internationally. There’s also the slight differences in the construction of the device, that being here the big lovely joystick button in the center on the international original while this first-released USA version of the device has just the four dedicated Android menu buttons that light up like a beacon in the night.
Depends on what you like, yes? If price is an issue for you, you’ll want to go for one of the USA editions, and since this is, at first, the only one available on the market, you’d better go for it. Unless you can wait a few weeks, that is, when the AT&T version is released and perhaps a few days more when the T-Mobile version is out. Not though that the T-Mobile version wont be carrying the same processor – decide you must!
When you’re heading out there to make your decision, again, remember that if you’ve already gotten to this point, it’s the Galaxy S II and the Galaxy S II and the Galaxy S II you’re deciding between. The original Galaxy S was and is one of the best selling Android devices of all time, even internationally, and the Galaxy S II isn’t doing so bad itself internationally as well.
This is Samsung’s greatest effort in a handset thus far. This WiMAX-capable version is the only US-bound version of the Galaxy S II you’re going to get with the original Exynos processor and a large 4.5-inch display. The T-Mobile version has a different processor (from Qualcomm) and the AT&T version has a 4.3-inch display like the original (because they’re also carrying the Infuse with the 4.5-inch display and the smaller processor.) Got all that straight? The long and short of it is, Samsung’s aiming to get a big display in your hands, one way or another. Super AMOLED Plus still reigns supreme for Samsung – for the moment, anyway. If I could have a choice of which Galaxy S II to pick, which would I choose? All of em. The international edition is the best for me because I travel internationally every once in a while, but would I be a normal citizen, the carrier I was already on would be the connection to the device I want – Galaxy S II for everybody!                           Device Info
Display
Dimension & Weight
Battery & Power
Software
Hardware
Cellular Network
Device Connectivity
|
| You are subscribed to email updates from Android Community To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
No comments:
Post a Comment