Samsung Galaxy Beam Up For Pre-order In The UK

One of the new smartphones that Samsung showed off at this years MWC, was the Samsung Galaxy Beam which comes with built in projector, the device is expected to launch in the UK in July and it is now available to pre-order.

The Samsung Galaxy Beam features a 4 inch display with a resolution of 800 x 400 pixels, a 5 megapixel rear camera for video and photos and a front facing 1.3 megapixel camera for video chat, plus a built in video projector that can project images and video up to 50 inches.

The Samsung Galaxy beam comes with Android 2.3 Gingerbread and it also features 8GB of built in storage, Samsung have said that it will get Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich shortly after release.

UK retailer Clover have just put the Galaxy Beam up for pre-order with a price of £454.80 including taxes, although they have also said that this price may change slightly between now and launch.

[GALAXY Beam] First Hands-on Video:

Samsung Galaxy Note Android 4.0 ICS Update Delayed Until Q2

Samsung were expected to release the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich update for their Galaxy Note smartphone before the end of March, we had previously heard that the update may be delayed and this has now been confirmed by Samsung. Samsung have announced that the Ice Cream Sandwich update for the Galaxy Note will be released some time in quarter two of 2012, and the update will be released worldwide at the same time.

Samsung also announced that the update will come as part of a ‘Premium Suite’ software package, which will come with exclusive applications which will use the Note’s S-Pen Stylus. The Premium Suite offers new features and applications exclusive to GALAXY Note and its innovative S Pen, which includes S Note, a unique tool that lets you combine your notes or sketches with other digital content, giving you a new way to create your own stories. S Note comes in various ready-to-use templates for a range of tasks including meeting minutes, diary and others.

Unfortunately Samsung did not give a specific date on when the Galaxy Note will get the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich update, lets hope it is released earlier in quarter two rather than later.

Samsung Galaxy Note Ice Cream Sandwich (Android 4.0) alpha hands-on video:

Three UK Samsung Galaxy S II Android 4.0 Update Released

South Korean, Polish, Swedish, and Hungarian Galaxy S II's have already been updated to Android 4.0, and the unlocked version of the phone has been upgraded in the UK, too. The key word there is "unlocked" — if you've got a UK carrier-locked variant, you might notice your phone is stubbornly stuck in heap of Gingerbread, awaiting carrier approval before getting the update. Thankfully, we've got a few details on when you can expect Ice Cream Sandwich: Three UK has confirmed that its users are receiving the update now (connect to the Kies software to do so), and O2 UK says it'll upgrade the phones in the beginning of April. Orange and Vodafone haven't given an ETA, but they have both confirmed that they're working on it, and T-Mobile UK, meanwhile, hasn't even said that it's making progress on the update. If you can't wait, you can of course (unofficially) load the ROM onto the phone yourself, or you can take a look at our hands-on with the update to see what you're missing.

samsung galaxy nexus (android 4.0.3 UPDATE UK):

Samsung Galaxy Pocket Android Smartphone Announced

Meet the Samsung Galaxy Pocket, officially announced today. The Galaxy Pocket measures 103.7 x 57.5 x 12 mm, and comes with a 2.8 inch QVGA display – this making it almost the same size as the Samsung Champ (the company’s smallest touchscreen handset ever).

Needless to say, the Galaxy Pocket is made for budget users. It runs Android 2.3 Gingerbread with an “upgraded TouchWiz UI,” and features HSDPA 3.6 Mbps, Wi-Fi, GPS, accelerometer, digital compass, Samsung’s ChatON communication service, Social Hub, 3.5mm headset jack, Bluetooth 3.0, stereo FM radio with RDS, 832MHz processor, 2MP rear camera with QVGA video recording, and a 1,200 mAh battery. The new, tiny smartphone also comes with 3GB of internal memory, expandable to 35GB via a MicroSD card slot. All in all, not bad for a budget device – if you don’t mind the QVGA display.

The Samsung Galaxy Pocket will be first available in the UK, sometime “later this year”. Its price hasn’t been unveiled, but I really don’t think it’s going to be higher than €150. Now, since you’re already introduced two entry-level sartphones this year (the Pocket, and the Mini 2).

Samsung Galaxy Note Unboxing, First Look and Pocket Test:

16GB Samsung Galaxy Nexus Lands On Verizon 5th April

The Galaxy nexus on Verizon currently comes with 32GB of built in storage, and we heard a while back that they would also be releasing a 16GB version. According to the guys from Droid Life, the 16GB Samsung Galaxy Nexus will be available on Verizon Wireless in the US from the 5th of April, although we don’t as yet have any details on pricing.

As a reminder the Samsung Galaxy Nexus comes with the latest version of Google’s mobile OS, Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, the handset features a 4.65 inch Super AMOLED HD display with a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels.

Other specifications on the Samsung Galaxy Nexus include a dual core 1.2GHz processor and there is also 1GB of RAM, and two cameras on the Galaxy Nexus with a 1.3 megapixel camera up front and a rear facing advanced 5 megapixel camera on the back. Have a look at our Samsung Galaxy Nexus review to see what we though of Google’s flagship Android ICS smartphone.

Samsung Galaxy Nexus 16GB Review:

Samsung Galaxy S Advance Appears At The FCC

The Samsung Galaxy S Advance was announced back in January, and the device has just appeared at the FCC in the US, an it looks like it is headed to US mobile carrier AT&T. As a reminder, the Samsung Galaxy S Advance comes with a 4 inch WVGA Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 480 x 800 pixels and it will come with Android 2.3 Gingerbread.

The Samsung Galaxy S Advance also features a dual core 1GHz processor, plus 768MB of RAM, and a front facing 1.3 megapixel camera for video chat, on the back there is a 5 megapixel camera with auto-focus and an LED flash, the rear camera can record HD video in 720p at 30 frames per second. Other specifications include a choice of either 8GB or 16GB of built in storage, plus a microSD card slot which can take up to 32GB cards, there are no details on pricing for the US as yet.

Samsung Galaxy S Advance Preview:

White Samsung Galaxy Nexus Now Available In The UK

We just got an email from a couple of online retailers here in the UK to let us know that they now have the SIM free white Samsung Galaxy Nexus available, and apart from the white casing the device comes with the same specifications as the original Galaxy Nexus.

The white Samsung Galaxy Nexus comes with the same specifications as the existing model, which include a 4.65 inch HD Super AMOLED multi-touch touchscreen display, with a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels, and an advanced 5 megapixel camera. The two retailers are Unlocked Mobiles and Clove, and the White Samsung Galaxy Nexus is available for £495, it should also be available shortly from a number of the various mobile phone provides on contract.

The Samsung Galaxy nexus comes with the latest version of Google’s mobile OS, Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich,have a look at our Samsung Galaxy Nexus review to see what we thought of Google’s flagship Android smartphone.

White Samsung Galaxy Nexus Coming February UK:

Samsung Cancels 32GB GSM Galaxy Nexus?

When Samsung launched the Galaxy Nexus in the UK and Europe, the device came with 16GB of built in storage, and there was also supposed to be a 32GB model on the way.

In the US the Samsung Galaxy Nexus is available with Verizon with 32GB of built in storage, but the GSM version is only available with 16GB of storage, and now it would appear that Samsung may have decided not to release a 32GB GSM version.

The news comes from Expansys who have posted on the XDA developers forum that Samsung has decided to cancel the 32GB version, although Samsung has as yet to confirm this. Another retailer Negri Electronics has also confirmed that they have received the same information from Samsung that they will not be releasing a 32GB GSM galaxy Nexus.

It isn’t clear as yet why Samsung has decided to cancel the 32GB model, as soon as we get some more information we will let you guys know. In the meantime have a look at our Samsung Galaxy Nexus review to see what we thought of this Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich device.

The Samsung Galaxy Nexus FULL Review (32GB/CDMA Version):

Samsung expects to rob Nokia of top maker title this year

The time of Nokia's unquestionable reign in the mobile phone market is drawing to a close it seems, as the Finns lost the smartphone shipment race last year. Samsung are reportedly gunning for the top, confident they can outsell Nokia in all categories in 2012.

They've beaten their 2010 sales records, moving the impressive 300 million phones in 2011, which seems to set them on the right track. They were on top in terms of smartphone volumes, but still trail Nokia when you consider all phones.

Analysts from Gartner are less certain that the South Koreans can steal the crown, saying that Nokia's strong position in emerging markets will allow it to maintain its lead. Especially, because the growth of the smartphone market is expected to slow down this year, except in emerging markets where Nokia reigns supreme. This is something Samsung will need to address if they really want the top spot, analysts say.

Reuters is predicting Nokia will sell 388 million phones in 2012, with Samsung following close by with 359 million. Their predictions for 2011 were 418 million and 320 million respectively, so predictions aren't always exact.

We'll see how things go. Samsung is pushing forward with Android, Bada and maybe Tizen, while Nokia is making Symbian (now Nokia OS, previously the top OS by market share) play second fiddle to their new love Windows Phone, which both Nokia and Microsoft expect to really pick up this year.

Is Samsung delaying the launch of Galaxy S III until after MWC?

It is needless to say that the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S III is one of the most anticipated Android devices, which are going to break cover this year - one of the brightest stars of the MWC which is set to kick off next month in Barcelona.

Or not? According to a fresh new rumor, the yet to be revealed Korean flagship might break cover after MWC, but before the summer. The reason for this shocker is the company's consideration for the U.S. market - one of its most important ones. Apparently, Samsung wants to avoid a huge gap of availability as in the case of the Galaxy S II last year.

Reportedly, Samsung will try to fill the giant void by focusing on tablets, as well as Windows Phone sporting devices.

Since we're talking rumors here, don't forget the usual pinch of salt. As always, we'll keep you posted, should we find out more on the subject.