Categories
Mobile Samsung Verizon

Verizon Samsung Continuum – Price, Features & Launch Unveiled

Samsung unveiled its new Android 2.1 smartphone – the Continuum at a media event yesterday. The specifications are not entirely new to us – check our features comparison article – though the official announcement has added credibility to all the rumors and speculations that have been doing the rounds so far. In case you missed it, the Samsung Continuum will feature a 3.4″ capacitive touchscreen WVGA display and will run on a 1GHz Hummingbird processor and a 512MB ROM. This is a dual display device with a 1.8″ ticker display beneath the actual display that will display notifications for messages besides updating the user on RSS feed updates, weather information, sports scores, caller info,etc.

The device will be launching on Verizon and you can buy one starting November 11. The price of the Continuum is expected to be around $199 – that is with a $100 mail-in rebate and after you sign a two year contract.

Does this look interesting?

Categories
Mobile Sony

HD Video Recording On Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 To Come With Android 2.1 Update

If you own an Xperia X10, keep looking out for a new update that is now being offered to the handset. This update will install Android 2.1 to the handset besides offering new features like 720p HD video recording, backup and restore application, new homescreens and a Facebook integrated phonebook. Xperia X10 Pro and Mini users will also receive updates for improved Bluetooth functionalities with support for sending pictures, contacts, etc.

Now because the update is significantly big, it will not be offered over the air. Instead, users will see a notification on their phones to update the software via the Sony Ericsson PC Companion app. The first of the phones should start receiving the update on October 31st with the distribution to extend all through the month of November. So if you don’t seem to be receiving your update soon enough, don’t get restless!

Categories
Mobile Samsung

New Samsung Galaxy Player Price & Launch Announced

There hasn’t been much talk about Samsung’s iPod Touch killer – the YP-MB2 media player that was unveiled back in July this year. Now, at last, there is some news about it. Now the Korean tech giant has released a teaser commercial that demonstrates the capabilities of this new Samsung Galaxy Player. If it is not very obvious from the branding, this device is going to be an Android based device that is more like a Galaxy S (forget the features) without the phone. To start with, the device will run Android 2.1 and will feature a 3.2″ screen, a 2-Megapixel camera, DLNA support, storage of 8GB 0r 16GB and a host of other features.

The specs, to be honest, look a little ‘underwhelming’ at the moment. The Galaxy Player is already on presale at some retailer in France for a price of €200. Let’s hope the device launches during the Christmas season. But going by the specs, does it look impressive to you?

Categories
Google Mobile

Android 2.1 Market Update Brings Froyo Features Like Widget

Several users on Android discussion forums have been noticing a new update to their Android Market app that brings several new features to their Android 2.1 handset. The update primarily introduces features such as widgets that were hitherto a part of FroYo Android 2.2 to the Eclair crowd. Here are some reactions from users who have noticed it,

“There is a new market. Comments are now on a separate tab and you can rate comments too.”

“I have a Droid X and the Market updated to version 2.07 today. I had a theme which made the market graphics black and white and they have been restored to the normal green and multi-colored.”

“got the silent update on fascinate, phone had root and lag fix, everything works… including the widget.”

Apparently, not all Android 2.1 phones seem to have got the new update. Do you see it on your Android? If not, reboot and try again. Let us know in the comments.

Categories
Mobile Motorola

T-Mobile Motorola Charm Price Slashed – New Discounted Pricing Launched

If you haven’t got a Motorola Charm already, here is your chance to do so. T-Mobile has just announced a discounted pricing for the Android smartphone that brings the inexpensive $75 phone down to an even attractive price of $49.99. This comes with a two year contract with T-Mobile as expected and is already at the new price on stores in the US.

Motorola Charm is pretty much a value-for-money handset and comes with a 2.8-inches TFT touchscreen display along with a 3-megapixel camera, 2GB microSD card and Bluetooth & GPS connectivity.

Motorola Charm launched late last month after a month of delay due to battery issues. While we do not have any official numbers on how the device has fared so far in the market, you can assume that T-Mobile may not have sold as many units as they would have liked and consequently you see this drop in prices less than a month after launch.

Categories
Google

Samsung Galaxy Player50 To Take On The New iPod Touch

So, the Android rival to the recently announced iPod Touch 4 has arrived. The new Samsung Galaxy Player 50, as you guessed, is a portable media player that will run on the Android OS. Android 2.1 to be precise. The device comes with pretty much everything that you see on modern day smartphones, including access to the Android marketplace, except of course the voice-call part. But this is a pretty impressive device from what you can see from the specs.

Firstly, this is a 3.2″ display – smaller than regular smartphone displays, but reasonable – that is equipped with a WQVGA LCD screenwith multitouch capability. Other specifications include a storage space of 8GB and 16GB with microSD card expansion of up to 32GB, a 2-megapixel camera and Wi-Fi connectivity. One gripe that you may have is that the device runs on Android 2.1 and not FroYo. But the device otherwise comes with all the bells and whistles that Android smartphones come with. There is no word on the price, but we expect it to effectively counter the iPod Touch 4.

Samsung Galaxy Player 50

Categories
Mobile Samsung

Samsung Fascinate Pre-orders Now Open

Best Buy has announced that the pre-orders for Samsung Fascinate are now open. A caveat here though – the offer is presently available only to the members of Reward Zone. Pre-orders for the general public will be made available starting August 29. The retailer has made no note of either the launch date nor the pricing.

But expect them to be competitive with Samsung Captivate and Vibrant. After all, these devices are all siblings with similar features and specs. Much like the rest of the Galaxy S ilk, the Samsung Fascinate too will feature a 4″ WVGA Super AMOLED screen, a 1GHz Hummingbird processor, a 5-megapixel camera and will run on Android 2.1 with TouchWiz 3.0 UI. But the Fascinate will flash a metallic body unlike the standard dark frames that have come to characterize Galaxy S.

In all likelihood, the Samsung Fascinate should launch within the first half of September since the device was originally pushed from an August launch to September only to accomodate the launch of Droid 2.

Categories
Mobile

ZTE Racer Review Of Price And Features

How do you like an Android 2.1 smartphone at £99.99? It may not sound too impressive until you are told that this is the total, unsubsidized cost of a phone that otherwise has good specifications. 3 UK has launched this seriously low-cost Android smartphone that is available for free along with an 18 month contract.

The price belies the good lineup of features on the ZTE Racer. The device comes with a 600MHz Qualcomm processor, a 2GB microSD card slot, a 3.2-megapixel camera, HSDPA 7.2Mbps connectivity and a 2.8-inches  QVGA resistive touchscreen. Other features on the device include support for FM Radio, GPS, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi.A pre-installed Skype app lets you make free Skype calls within the UK.
Zte Racer review

I think the features here are impressive for a sub-£100 phone though the resistive touchscreen may get some of you to frown. Nevertheless, if you are interested in this beautiful device, and you live in the UK, head over to the nearest 3 store and grab a handset.

Categories
Gadgets Samsung

How To Unroot Samsung Galaxy S Running Android 2.1?

Rooting an Android phone has its advantages. The process will allow you to gain super user status thus allowing you to install and run applications outside the Android marketplace on your Android device. However, there are also risks to this process since it may void your warranty besides possible bricking of your device.

If you have rooted your Samsung Galaxy S i9000 and are looking for a way to unroot the device, this one-click solution will help you with the process. Please note that you will need a Windows based computer to proceed. Also, this procedure is meant for Android 2.1 Eclair and may not work if you are running Android 2.2 Froyo on your Galaxy S.

Step 1 : Download the following three files to your Windows computer.
.NET Version 4
One-Click Root/Unroot file
Windows Samsung Drivers 32bit & 64bit

Step 2 : Click and install the .NET application on your computer

Step 3 : On your Samsung Galaxy phone, navigate to Menu -> Settings -> Applications -> USB Debugging. Here, enable the USB debugging option. You may be offered a warning message. Tap OK to proceed with the unroot process

Step 4 : Connect your Galaxy phone to the Windows computer. If the Kies software autoruns, close it. Your phone will now detect the appropriate Samsung driver and install it

Step 5 : With Galaxy connected to your computer, double click on the One-Click root file to start the unroot process. You will be shown the following window

Click on the ‘One-Click Unroot 2.1‘ option

Step 6 : The application will now take you through several lines of messages and notifications. Finally the application will complete the unrooting process for the handset.

You are done. Disconnect your phone to complete the process.

Categories
android Samsung

One Click Samsung Galaxy S Root Tutorial

There are more than one rooting solutions available for Samsung Galaxy phones including T-Mobile Vibrant and AT&T Captivate. But if you are looking at a one-click solution for rooting your Samsung Galaxy S i9000, then here is a way out – a guide that can get your system rooted in less then five minutes.

But before you proceed, please do note the caveats – You risk losing your warranty and could also potentially brick your phone. So unless you are absolutely sure, don’t try it. The procedure is compatible with Samsung Galaxy S i9000 running either Android 2.1 or Android 2.2. (We have a number of articles covering the other Samsung Galaxy variants. Click here to check out these articles)

Step 1 : To get started, download these files : .NET version 4 | One-Click Root application | Samsung Galaxy S Drivers 32bit & 64bit.

Once done, install the .NET application.

Step 2 : One your Galaxy S, navigate to Menu -> Settings -> Applications -> USB Debugging to enable the USB debugging option. You will be displayed a warning message. Tap OK to proceed.

Step 3 : Connect the Galaxy S to your computer. If the Kies software begins its autorun, close the application.

Step 4 : The phone will now detect the driver tools that were downloaded earlier and install them

Step 5 : Now double click and run the One click root file downloaded earlier

Rooting Samsung Galaxy S

Step 6 : You will be prompted to choose the appropriate root tool. Click on 2.1 or 2.2 depending on the Android OS version installed on your Galaxy phone

Step 7 : The rooting process will now begin. You will be taken through a series of instructions and updates. You don’t have to do anything other than wait for the process to get completed.

The procedure is complete. You have rooted your Samsung Galaxy phone.