Android Mobiles

Earlier today we told you about the announcement of Samsung’s first Android Phone for the Korean market, the Samsung SHW-M100S running Android 2.1. Now a few videos of the device have popped up and they look rather promising – that display looks great!

Near the end of the first video they compare the iPhone to this device in terms of size and this looks MUCH chunkier than the iPhone. But then again, some people like that more bulbous, Palm-Pre-ish stone in your hand feel instead of a thin slate-like experience.

Thanks to eNuri.com for the videos!

Launched in November 2009, the Samsung Galaxy Spica featured Android 1.5 and will be upgraded to 2.1 at some point of the second quarter this year. The news is coming via Telix.pl and says that Samsung Poland has confirmed the upgrade.

The Android 2.1 update will be available through the Samsung Apps application store in the Samsung Kies software suite. Samsung’s Galaxy 2 is rumored to launch with Android 2.1. So rejoice Galaxy Spica owners and hopefully Android 2.1 will come to the rest of us soon as well!

[via UnwiredView]

The first Samsung Android Phone running Android 2.1, which also happens to be the first Samsung Android Phone for the home market of South Korea, has just been announced. Enjoy these pictures of the Samsung SHW-M100S which we’re hoping will get a cuter name when it is launched on SK Telecom in March:

As for the specs of the M100S:

• 800MHz processor
• 3.7-inch AMOLED touchscreen (WVGA)
• 5MP camera with 720p video recording
• Wi-Fi (802.11n)
• GPS
• T-DMB
• DivX support
• 3.5mm headphone jack
• TouchWiz UI
• Social Networking Service (SNS)
• Android market
• SK Telecom’s T store.

It looks pretty tasty… and promising Android 2.1 by March? Can’t argue with that! Unfortunately this might not make its way out of the Korean borders… we’ll see, more 2.1+ please!

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For people like you and me, phones and gadgets are mostly (if not all) fun and games. The battle between smartphone powerhouses is an entertaining spectacle that, regardless of which company comes out on top, consumers always win. But for the people behind the scenes the picture isn’t always as pretty.

A Samsung VP was recently found dead and apparently jumped out the window of his apartment in a successful suicide attempt. Some reports are saying the man, mentioned only as having the surname “Lee”, left a note in his apartment that stress at work led him to commit the act. That’s debateable:

YTN, a cable news network, quoted an unidentified Samsung representative as saying the deceased had recently been at odds with his peers over promotions.

YTN also quoted another insider as saying senior executives at Samsung had tried to keep the news of his death from becoming public.

An investigator said, “It has been confirmed that he suffered chronic depression caused by an excessive workload. As far as I know, he complained in his letter that his work was too tough to stand.”

If promotions and power are at play, police have to at least be CONSIDERING the possibility he was “pushed” out of the window – don’t they? I don’t have any evidence but it sounds like there is at least a POTENTIAL motive. Either way you look at it… a sad story regardless.

Lee was hired in the early 1990s by Samsung and worked in the memory chip division. In 2006 he won the “Samsung Fellow” award which is given annually to the company’s top engineer. Being a VP I’m sure this is a HUGE loss to Samsung and a blow to the morale of the company, but I’m sure those hurting the most are his family members. Sad, sad story…

[Via KoreaTimes]

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The Mobile World Congress is right around the corner in Barcelona and it looks to be a great event for Android lovers. One device that COULD be announced if the rumors fall graciously into place is the Samsung Galaxy 2 of which a picture/render just leaked:

That’s a good looking device and if you ask me, looks polished enough that it’s probably not a fanboy render photochop job. We also got a list of potential specs for the device:

• 1 GHz Snapdragon
• 3.7 inch AMOLED touchscreen
• 5 MP camera
• 32 GB internal memory
• Android 2.1
• 3.5 mm jack

As Engadget points out, the Snapdragon processor is a Qualcomm creation and Samsung creates its own chips so this is a possible point of contention. Probably just an oversight by Androphones (or their tipster) but one worth mentioning.

Other Great AndroidGuys Posts

• January 19, 2010 — Pair of Android Handsets Postponed Amidst China Dustup (4)
• January 23, 2010 — Did Google Shoot itself in the Foot with Nexus One? (20)
• January 8, 2010 — Flash for “Most” Android Devices in 2010? (16)
• November 25, 2009 — Best Buy Mobile Offering 5 Android Under $100 (26)
• October 31, 2009 — “I Know I Missed the iPhone, but Now I’m Taking my ‘Droid and Going Home!” (52)