Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 pricing set for disaster

We’re now reviewing some pricing details for the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 announced earlier today, and if these number stick to release day, we’ve got not doubt that Samsung has a rather larger blunder on their hands. The Galaxy Tab 2 was announced as a low-cost update to the original Galaxy Tab, otherwise known as the first real effort on earth to create an Android tablet. This new tablet has a 7-inch 1024 x 600 PLS LCD display, a 1GHz dual-core processor, and a 3-megapixel camera – perfect for a $240 price point – thats about half the cost we’re seeing here in an apparent Euro price schedule.


What’s being confirmed here by Samsung to Sammy Hub is a set of prices that sit in Sweden, Finland, Norway, and Denmark, along with assurance that the Galaxy Tab 2 will release in the UK first. This tablet is shaping up to be rather similar to the ASUS MeMO tablet we saw at CES 2012, but at half the core power and twice the price. Will the high-powered display be enough to convince customers that this is the winning 7-incher?

Here is the official pricing and availability for the Scandinavian countries. Expected in March, the tablet will sell in both Wi-Fi-only and Wi-Fi + 3G versions.
Sweden:
Wi-Fi: 2,995SEK (450USD)
3G: 3,695 SEK (556USD)
Finland:
Wi-Fi: 349EUR (463USD)
3G: 429EUR (568USD)
Norway:
Wi-Fi: 2,400NOK (420USD)
3G: 2,990NOK (523USD)
Denmark:
Wi-Fi: 2,350DKK (419USD)
3G: 3,995DKK (512USD)

Take a trip down Chris Davies way to get a better understanding of this situation and head back to our last review of a Galaxy Tab to see what Samsung is about to offer. This is the billionth tablet shown off by Samsung in the last year it seems, and there’s no sign of them stopping in 2012. Tablets galore for all!

Samsung Epic 4G Touch could be the first GSII receiving Android 4.0

Samsung Epic 4G Touch owners are probably on the edges of their seats right now. And sources say, it could be the first Galaxy S II to receive Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich). The Now Network has been punctual at delivering updates in the past, and over on their official forums resides some eye-squinting information detailing an Android 4.0.3 update is imminent. It unveils both the Touch’s model number and software version. Therefore, we should definitely expect an update – hopefully sooner rather than later.


The Epic 4G Touch is currently on Android 2.3.6, so hopefully the big jump to 4.0 doesn’t leave it with any bugs. There’s been an absence of complaints about this device from critics so far, and hopefully it stays that way. But realistically, it shouldn’t surprise us if 4.0 doesn’t agree in exactly the manner we had hoped for. After all, it would be the guinea pig amongst many GSII smartphones slated to receive the update.

The device has been rooted for quite some time, so if an official build leaks out to the public we’ll let you know. Of all devices I’d hoped to see ICS run over, the Galaxy Note and Epic 4G Touch were on the top of my list. The 4.5″ screen will look massive, even sitting beside a Galaxy Nexus. The Nexus has a 4.65″ display, but lets not forget some of it is used to operate the menu buttons – whereas the Epic 4G Touch makes use of the entire display.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 OTA update hitting WiFi models now

A maintenance update should be pushed to the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 [WiFi Only] soon, and aims to fix a few common issues. No, this may not be the Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) update you’ve been praying about, but it still mends some important problems. First off, it should fix rotation issues. Slow rotation on either a tablet or smartphone can get real irritating, so hopefully this speeds things up.


The fixes tend to email attachment issues, improve WiFi reconnection response, and other system file force closes. It should also improve battery life. This improvement could be directly related to previous WiFi reconnection problems, as constantly reconnecting to a network burns your battery faster than normal.
And finally, it installs the latest version of the Android Market. It’s odd Google hasn’t initiated an easier way to upgrade the Android Market; sure you could download the .apk file of the latest and greatest – but many only trust a more “official” approach. I’m sure the Market is one application we wouldn’t mind Android automatically upgrading.

Samsung Galaxy Note [AT&T] unboxing and impressions

Big phone, small tablet, or unnecessary hybrid? Our man Chris Davies said it best during his initial review of the international Galaxy Note, but today we have the AT&T 4G LTE powered Note on our tables for a quick glance. Below we unbox it, compare the differences from the international version and the size boost over the Galaxy Nexus. Not to mention a few LTE speedtests and pictures so check it out.


First off this device should need to introduction but just in case I’ll run down the impressive specs Samsung has packed into this large phone. The Galaxy Note features a massive 5.3″ Super AMOLED HD display coming in with a 1280 x 800 resolution. Making this one of the highest resolution and best looking displays on a smartphone. Powered by a 1.5 GHz dual-core Qualcomm processor (not the 1.4 GHz Exynos like the international Note) and 1GB of RAM. Samsung’s added 16GB of internal storage although only about 10GB is available for usage.
You pair all of that with an 8 megapixel camera on the rear, 2 MP up front for video, a built-in stylus called the S-Pen with extreme accuracy and pressure sensitivity all ran off Android 2.3 Gingerbread and a huge 2,500 mAh battery it’s destined for success. Or is it too big? For now we’ll quickly show it off, test the LTE speeds and let you check out the video. Then stay tuned for our full review and complete thoughts once we’ve had some time to enjoy it and decide what we truly think.

For those familiar with the international Galaxy Note the AT&T model has a few key differences. For one like mentioned above is the dual-core 1.5 GHz Qualcomm, not Samsung’s in-house Exynos running at 1.4 GHz. So the AT&T model will perform differently. Speaking of performance it might also get better, or worse battery life depending on that new processors efficiency — and how much the 4G LTE sucks down on power usage. All of this will be looked over for our review. If you are on AT&T the choice is pretty clear as this has 4G LTE and will fit nicely as an upgrade from a previous device. The last difference is the hardware home button being replaced with 4 capacitive touch buttons — but that was expected for a US release.
So where do I begin? The phone is big, really big. I thought the Galaxy Nexus was pushing my limits and it clearly is. The Note is huge! This will definetaly be for a certain crowd for the sheer size and lack of portability. If you can get over the size however, this is a truly versatile device. The fact that it’s actually thinner than the Galaxy Nexus really helps, the rounded edges makes it feel smaller than it really is — helping its cause given the size.
The display is gorgeous, and I mean that. The colors are extremely crisp, vivid and bright and it is absolutely impressive to say the least. I love the Galaxy Nexus, but the Note’s screen is just WOW worthy. Throwing the phone to your ear in public might get a few of those “Wow’s” too though. AT&T’s 4G LTE seems to be chugging along just great here with the Note. In a solid signal location in Las Vegas I’m averaging around 12-15 MB/s down and around 7-10 up. Not the fastest we’ve seen but I’ll take it. We’ll be sure to test in more locations later too.

I’ll be sure to test out the S-Pen and the WACOM digitizer and see just how well it really performs for day to day use, and decide if a stylus is something I see myself using daily. For some that wont matter but I’m sure a few are interested in hearing. Enjoy our video unboxing and stay tuned for a full rundown and review coming in a few days.
Galaxy Note AT&T hands-on and unboxing

Device Specifications and Information

Device Info

Device Name : GALAXY Note LTE

Manufactuer : Samsung

Carrier : AT&T

Announced Date : January 09, 2012

Release Date : February 19, 2012

Also Known As :

Display

• Screen Size : 5.3 Inch
• Resolution : 1280x800
• Screen Type : Super AMOLED

Dimension & Weight

• Height : 5.78 Inch
• Width : 3.27 Inch
• Depth : 0.38 Inch
• Weight : 183 Grams

Battery & Power

Battery Type:
• Lithium Ion

• Battery Capacity : 2500 mAh
• Talk Time : NA
• Stand By Time : 250 hours

Software

Android OS:
• 2.3.x

Audio Playback:
• AAC
• AAC+
• AMR
• MID
• MP3
• WAV
• WMA

Video Playback:
• h.263
• h.264 / AVC
• MPEG-4 (MP4)

Messaging:
• SMS
• MMS

Hardware

CPU : MSM8660

CPU Clock Speed : 1500 Mhz

Core : 2

Ram : 1024 MB

Internal Storage : 16 GB

Front Facing Camera :

Samsung Galaxy Nexus 32GB GSM canceled according to online retailers

Bad news has just surfaced today for those looking to get the 32GB version of the Samsung Galaxy Nexus. The GSM model was announced with both a 16 and 32GB model being available but we’ve yet to see the larger of the two. Today according to online retailer Expansys-USA Samsung has canceled the item. It’s possible that it has only been delayed but so far things aren’t looking good.


For those unaware, the Galaxy Nexus does not feature a micro-SD slot for extra storage. Instead we must reply on the built-in storage options available. The Verizon Galaxy Nexus comes with 32GB of storage, but for for the rest of the world and all GSM models they currently only come equipped with 16GB. We’ve been waiting for online retailers to start shipping the 32GB version and have yet to see it come in stock.
If the official comment from Corey at Expansys is true, Samsung has for some unknown reasons canceled or delayed the model but at this time we have no official details. Here is the official comment:

We’ve just been notified this morning that Samsung have dropped the Galaxy Nexus 32GB from production. At this time it looks like they will not be releasing it. Not good news at all.
Corey
EXPANSYS-USA

This might not be a big concern for some, but I know many have been waiting specifically for this version to come with more storage. The 32GB GSM Galaxy Nexus was showing as discontinued earlier today over at the online retailer, but now seems to have disappeared completely from their site. We’ll keep digging for more information and will update if we hear more.

Device Specifications and Information

Device Info

Device Name : GALAXY Nexus

Manufactuer : Samsung

Carrier : Verizon

Announced Date : October 18, 2011

Release Date : December 15, 2011

Also Known As : Nexus Prime

Display

• Screen Size : 4.65 Inch
• Resolution : 1280x720
• Screen Type : Super AMOLED

Dimension & Weight

• Height : 5.33 Inch
• Width : 2.67 Inch
• Depth : 0.35 Inch
• Weight : 135 Grams

Battery & Power

Battery Type:
• Lithium Ion

• Battery Capacity : 1750 mAh
• Talk Time : NA
• Stand By Time : NA

Software

Android OS:
• 4.0.x

Audio Playback:
• AAC
• AAC+
• AMR
• MID
• MP3
• WAV
• WMA

Video Playback:
• h.263
• h.264 / AVC
• MPEG-4 (MP4)

Messaging:
• SMS
• MMS

Hardware

CPU : OMAP 4460

CPU Clock Speed : 1200 Mhz

Core : 2

Ram : 1000 MB

Internal Storage : 32 GB

Front Facing Camera :

Verizon may get white Galaxy Nexus with reduced price and storage

If the Galaxy Nexus LTE on Verizon Wireless seems a little bland to you, and if for some reason you just hate having lots of storage space, you may soon find the perfect phone. Droid Life reports that Verizon will be getting a localized version of the Galaxy Nexus, just like the UK has already. Hold your wallets, Android faithful: their (anonymous) sources claim that this version will be reduced to half storage for a total of 16GB, and that’s no small matter when the phone is already without a MicroSD card slot. This jives with earlier rumors that the 32GB version has been scrapped all together, for both HSPA+ and LTE varieties.

On the plus side, a reduced storage option may indicate a lowered price as well. When Verizon stripped the 16GB card out of the DROID RAZR (which is also available in white) it dropped the price by a cool $100, giving the flagship phone a lower barrier to entry and sending bargain hunters to Google in droves to check the price of a 16GB card. The carrier still offers the 32GB version (16+16) for a full $299 on contract, so it might be using the addition of a white Galaxy Nexus to offer the same phone at a lower price point. This would leave the DROID RAZR MAXX and the HTC Rezound as the last of Verizon’s LTE headliner devices with only a $299 option.
The source claims that the basic metallic gray will also come in at $199 with a reduced 16GB capacity, for those who… just really like gray plastic, I guess. What’s the likelihood of this all being true? Given Verizon’s actions over the last few weeks, we’d say it’s as least as likely as not – keep in mind that the DROID RAZR has been on the market for a month longer than the Galaxy Nexus, so if Verizon’s pursuing a staggered price drop strategy, the timing would make sense. Since Verizon remains the only US carrier to offer the Ice Cream Sandwich developer phone at present, we’d be happy to see it within the grasp of more budget-conscious buyers.

Device Specifications and Information

Device Info

Device Name : GALAXY Nexus 4G [Verizon]

Manufactuer : Samsung

Carrier : Verizon

Announced Date : December 14, 2011

Release Date : December 15, 2011

Also Known As : Nexus Prime

Display

• Screen Size : 4.65 Inch
• Resolution : 1280x720
• Screen Type : Super AMOLED

Dimension & Weight

• Height : 5.33 Inch
• Width : 2.67 Inch
• Depth : 0.37 Inch
• Weight : 150 Grams

Battery & Power

Battery Type:
• Lithium Ion

• Battery Capacity : 1850 mAh
• Talk Time : NA
• Stand By Time : 150 hours

Software

Android OS:
• 4.0.x

Audio Playback:
• AAC
• AAC+
• AMR
• MID
• MP3
• WAV
• WMA

Video Playback:
• h.264 / AVC

Messaging:
• SMS
• MMS

Hardware

CPU : OMAP 4460

CPU Clock Speed : 1200 Mhz

Core : 2

Ram : 1000 MB

Internal Storage : 32 GB

Front Facing Camera :

Acer Iconia Tab A510 tipped to hit Europe in March

A couple of new important details on the Acer Iconia Tab A510 have surfaced. A few details on this tablet turned up in November but the price, and the launch date have apparently changed. The A510 will have 10.1-inch display and run Android 4.0. The processor will be the Nvidia Tegra 3 quad core and the tablet is tipped to have better power management than its predecessor the A200.


The improved power management means that the 9800mAh battery is good for close to 18 hours per charge with use. The tablet has dual stereo speakers, 32 GB of storage space, a microSD port, and a five-megapixel camera. The tablet also has a SIM card slot allowing for 3G connectivity along with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
The new information we have is that the Wi-Fi only version will land in France and possibly the rest of Europe starting next month for €399. The tablet will come in black or silver and there’ll be a bunch of accessories available. That price is much more bearable than the original €499 that had been tipped last month.

Sprint’s Samsung Epic 4G Touch Getting ICS Soon?

Sprint has just outed the fact that the Samsung Galaxy S II Epic 4G Touch (phew!) may be getting updated to Ice Cream Sandwich soon. XDA member kc_exactly found a Sprint RDF file on their servers, dated February 10th, that lists the Android version as 4.0.3.  Sprint has been good about trying to get updates out before other carriers, but Samsung’s past record with the original Epic 4G left many customers wanting.
This RDF file points to an improved release process for Samsung if the update is indeed released soon, potentially making this the first Galaxy S II device to get upgraded to ICS. But remember, there is no date mentioned, and no guarantee it will be soon. We’re keeping our fingers crossed!

Vodafone will be a Vendor for the Samsung Galaxy Note

Vodafone left a note on it’s Twitter page yesterday announcing that it will, in fact, be adding the Galaxy Note to its offerings soon. Back when the Note was nearing launch, Vodafone was on the list of possible carriers. It seems the wait is almost over. Vodafone has yet to make any announcements regarding pricing.
The Galaxy Note is a monster device in terms of size and power. Here’s what you have to look forward to.

• 5.3-inch 1280×800 Super AMOLED HD display w/ S-Pen
• 1.4GHz Dual-Core CPU
• Android 2.3 (Android 4.0 coming in an update)
• HSPA+ 21Mbps 850/900/1900/2100MHz
• Wi-Fi a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0

In the mean time, jump past the break to see Vodafone’s preview with Samsung.

Talk Android Laser Etched Galaxy Nexus Battery Door Now Available At IndieGoGo!

Yesterday I mentioned that you can currently make a pledge to help fund an IndieGoGo start-up project and in return get your very own custom laser etched battery door for your Galaxy nexus. What I didn’t really emphasize is that the Talk Android logo is also one of your options for engravings! Omar was kind enough to include us in with his preselected images so the awesome Talk Android broadcast logo you see above is one of the $30/$40 laser etching options. So if you’re a die hard Android fan and a Talk Android advocate, now is your chance to promote your favorite Android news source and put a little “us” in your Nexus. I mean, what better way to show TA some love and still manage to pimp out your Galaxy Nexus at the same time! Hit up the source link below to make your pledge… all the cool kids are doing it.

Maintenance OTA Update Rolling Out for Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1

I have some good and bad news for you owners of the US Wifi Galaxy Tab 10.1. Good news is you should be seeing an OTA update from Samsung but the bad news is it’s not Ice Cream Sandwich. It’s Android 3.2 and it pushes the build up to HTJ85B.UEKMP P7510UEKMP. While it’s not being pushed out in full effect there are enough folk out there receiving it that suggests that everyone will be seeing it sooner rather than later. The bug fixes include:
- Fixes for email attachment issues,
- Rotation issues,
- Wifi Reconnect issues,
- System file Force close fixes,
- Improved Power Consumption,
- Android Market updated to 3.4.4.
While it may not be ICS just yet, it will certainly add some milage and stability to your 10.1 inch Galaxy Tab. You can check for the update by going to Settings> About device> Software update. Otherwise you can head to this XDA forum to download it now. Let us know in the comments section if you’ve received this yet. Enjoy!

White Galaxy Nexus Heading to Verizon?

You know that white international version of the Galaxy Nexus we have been seeing lately? Yeah that one, the white one. Well, apparently for you U.S. folks who are just dying to get your hands on an alabaster GNex, you just might be able to get one that works on Verizon’s blazing fast LTE network soon enough. You heard right, according to Droid Life they received word from some “friends” in the industry who say the 16GB version of the white Galaxy Nexus is slated to make a Big Red appearance in the near future.

Supposedly, Verizon’s white phone is going to be of the 16GB flavor only, no 32GB version for us here in the U.S.. It is thought that the price will be around $199 to be on par with the 16GB version of the DROID RAZR, which makes sense. If it’s the price point you are excited about and not the color, you might be happy to hear that a 16GB silver/grey Galaxy Nexus will be joining up with Verizon alongside the white one. We will keep you posted as soon as we hear more.

Samsung Galaxy Nexus 32GB GSM Models Disappearing From Online Retail Sites

Despite the popularity of the Samsung Galaxy Nexus, it’s not difficult to quickly spot one of its most noticeable flaws, and that’s the lack of storage space.  And we hate to be the bearer of bad news, but it looks like the 32GB GSM models are slowly dwindling away from online vendors.  According to online retailer Expansys-USA, Samsung Corp has canceled the popular Google experience phone though most only believed it to be delayed.  Why should one care? Well, if you’re the type who has a but-load of music, video and pics, you’re going to be hard pressed with just a 16 GB model in your hand.  Recall that the device does not have expandable storage by way of an SD card slot, so what you get is what you got.  And that will most certainly be a big deal breaker for most.  So, if you’re looking for a 32 GB G-Nex, it looks like Verizon might be your only choice at the moment.  Expansys made an official comment regarding the matter and it appears that Samsung has dropped the device from production altogether.

We’ve just been notified this morning that Samsung have dropped the Galaxy Nexus 32GB from production. At this time it looks like they will not be releasing it. Not good news at all.

Corey
EXPANSYS-USA

And according to the site, the device was showing “discontinued” and now seems to be nowhere in view.  Stay tuned as we dig a little deeper for you and feel free to rant as much as you want in the comments below.

Samsung Galaxy Note coming to Vodafone Australia

With imminent launches in the U.S. and Canada, and strong sales worldwide, there's certainly a fair bit of traction behind the Samsung Galaxy Note. Now the Note looks set to extend its reach into Australia, with today's news that Vodafone Australia will be carrying the device at some point in the future.

The Galaxy Note combines one of the largest screens ever seen on a smartphone -- a 5.3-inch HD SuperAMOLED display -- with WACOM-based, pressure-sensitive stylus input. Samsung's S Pen, as it's called, allows detailed notes or doodles to be taken on the screen, and the UI and apps can also be navigated using the pen instead of your finger. We reviewed the international HSPA+ Galaxy Note last year, and spent some time with the North American LTE version at last month's CES in Las Vegas.

The Galaxy Note is also rumored to be coming to rival Aussie carrier Telstra, though so far there's been no official announcement.

Samsung Galaxy Note launching today in Canada

Right on cue, today sees the Canadian launch of the Galaxy Note, Samsung's super-sized phone/tablet hybrid. The Canadian version, which unlike its international counterpart ships with 4G LTE support, is available now Bell Canada and TELUS Mobility. Rogers is due to get it today too, though at the time of writing their site has not yet been updated. Prices on TELUS start at C$779.99 for the Note without a contract, down to C$199.99 with a three-year service agreement. Bell offers the same price with a three-year contract, but has a slightly lower SIM-free price of C$729.99
That'll get you a 5.3-inch device with a HD SuperAMOLED display, a 1.5 GHz dual-core processor and pen input courtesy of Samsung's S Pen. The Note launches with Android 2.3 Gingerbread and Samsung's TouchWiz UI, though an update to Ice Cream Sandwich is expected in the next couple of months.
Stateside, AT&T will be releasing its own version of the Galaxy Note this Sunday, Feb. 19. For more on the Note, check out our review of the international version.

Samsung brings dual-SIM smartphones to India

Samsung has launched three new "Duos"-branded smartphones in India, offering dual connectivity to Indian consumers. The Galaxy Y Duos and Galaxy Y Pro Duos will look familiar to anyone who's glanced across Samsung's European line-up, but the Duos variants come with dual-SIM support. Similarly, the Galaxy Ace has been available for around a year, but the Ace Duos includes both GSM and CDMA connectivity.
Dual SIM devices are popular in developing countries, where many phone users operate multiple pre-paid SIMs on different networks, allowing them to take advantage of both networks' coverage areas. However, traditionally users would have to make do with a basic featurephone if they wanted two SIMs in the same device.
The Galaxy Y Duos, Galaxy Y Duos Pro and Galaxy Ace Duos are due to go on sale in India in the coming days. All three devices run Android 2.3 Gingerbread with Samsung's TouchWiz 4 UI.

ShopAndroid Daily Giveaway #07: Galaxy S II Multimedia Dock, Droid RAZR Crystal Case & more!

Kicking off today's ShopAndroid.com Daily Giveaway, we're featuring some sweet new items such as the Samsung Multimedia Dock for AT&T Galaxy S II, Mobi Products Crystal Case for Motorola Droid RAZR, Seidio SURFACE Holster for Samsung/Verizon Galaxy Nexus, and the OtterBox Defender Series Case for HTC Rezound.
Leave a comment letting us know which of these featured accessories you'd like to get your hands on, and we'll announce the winner of today's daily giveaway next Monday.
The Samsung Multimedia Dock turns your AT&T Galaxy S II into a convenient desktop media center.  You can listen to music via the built-in 3.5mm stereo port, watch movies in either portrait or landscape mode by simply tilting the unit 90 degrees, and keep all of your communication tools and favorite apps close at hand. The dock features a built-in speakerphone and comes with a microUSB travel adapter.
The Motorola Droid RAZR Mobi Products Crystal Case is the perfect solution for protection for anyone who prefers the original look of their Droid RAZR.  The crystal case is completely transparent, and made of a highly durable plastic shell featuring cutouts for all of the device's ports and buttons.  It's great against drops, extremely lightweight, and easy to install and remove.
The durable spring clip on the Seidio SURFACE Holster holds your Galaxy Nexus securely in place, and then lifts for quick and easy access.  The holster features a felt liner interior that protects your Galaxy Nexus screen when inserted face-in.  You can wear this holster in seven different positions, ranging between vertical and horizontal.  Holster requires the use of the Seidio SURFACE Case to fit properly.
Rated as one of the most protective cases available for the HTC Rezound, the OtterBox Defender Series Case features three layers of solid protection for your Android device.  A Thermal formed clear membrane protects the Rezound's display against scratching and dust, a hi-impact polycarbonate shell guards against drops and absorbs shock, and a high quality silicon skin wraps around the entire device to ensure complete protection.

Wrap up

That's it for today's featured accessories for the ShopAndroid.com Daily Giveaway.  Make sure you leave a comment stating which one of these items you'd like to have for your Android device, and you'll be eligible to win said item!

ShopAndroid.com Deal of the Day: Mobi Products Hard Shell Case for AT&T Samsung Skyrocket

 
The ShopAndroid.com Deal of the Day for Feb. 14 is the Mobi Products Hard Shell Case for the Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket on AT&T. This Hard Case from Mobi Products is designed specifically for the Samsung Skyrocket and has cut outs for all of the devices features while leaving the screen exposed for full functionality. It comes in pink, purple, red, blue or black today only for just $4.95 -- that's 75 percent off! Get yours while supplies last.