Best Buy has a guide that is showing the Samsung Gem, to be coming soon to Verizon. It does appear that this will be a lower end Android handset when you put it up next to the Fascinate and all the other heavy hitting Droid phones.

What we do know about the Gem is, it will be running Android 2.1 and have TouchWiz 3.0 layered on top. Swype will be added as it is for most Samsung Android devices, and it will have a 3.2 megapixel camera, 16GB SD card slot (not sure if card is included) Wi-Fi, and GPS. There is not any pricing or release date information, but we would imagine that it would be on the cheaper, and sooner than later side. If your interested, we will keep you posted.

[via Android Central]

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In the U.S., “iPod” is pretty much synonymous with “MP3 player.” How many people do you know who own anything else? It’s the same in Japan, but times could be a-changin’. See, the iPod has finally be out-sold, and it was beat by the venerable Sony Walkman.

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In today’s News Brake: The Ferrari 458 Italia is recalled after fire reports, the 2011 Dodge Durango is revealed, and Jaguar concept shows future in sports-car styling . . . But Wait, There’s More! View full post on AutoWeek – Latest Car News Feed

More choices, few opportunities. The internet allows us to see and read about (and salivate over) more audio products than ever before. But, in the Age of Information, it is ironic that there are actually few opportunities to “taste” all that is available. If it is not available at Best Buy or their high-end store, Magnolia, you may never hear many of the audio products you see on the internet–even if you have a specialty audio store in your market.

Whether groceries or flat panel video monitors, American buys most of their products at huge retailers, sometimes called Big Box Stores. These large retailers have an immense array of products, but, there are countless more that can not be displayed. Best Buy/Magnolia is the largest retailer of home entertainment equipment, but, they must carefully choose what appeals to the majority of consumers.

The worldwide selection of brands and models is immense. Perhaps you are looking for something different than what the majority of consumers want. You might be able to find it at an independent audio specialty retailer. But, specialty stores have gone the way of the corner hardware store. Yes, there are a few specialty audio stores left, but, in many markets there is only one still in business. And these small stores can not accommodate and display all the products not shown at the big audio/video chain stores.

Audio manufacturers lose sleep over this problem. So many choices and so few opportunities for the consumer to actually “taste” their products. Earlier we reported on the “buzz” created by a new loudspeaker model, the Magneplanar 1.7 from Magnepan, a small Minnesota company. It is the audio equivalent of your flat panel video monitor– big, but, very thin (only 2 inches). Magnepan has a novel solution to the small audio manufacturer’s dilemma. Magnepan borrowed a marketing idea used by grocery stores of offering tasty little morsels while you shop.

Over 41 years, Magnepan become known to hardcore audiophiles for their large, flat-panel ribbon speakers. As stereo stores from the ’70s began to disappear and fewer consumers had a Magneplanar dealer in their city, Magnepan decided to “hand out appetizers”. They designed smaller versions of their large models that were beloved by audiophiles. Magnepan is totally upfront about their intentions. They would like you to sample this MMG “appetizer” for 60 days because they know the statistical probability that you will keep it– or trade it in for one of their larger models.

It appears to be a can’t-lose proposal for the consumer. So, why don’t other manufacturers do the same? Well, Magnepan explains that their technology lends itself to “appetizers” and this idea just won’t work for video monitors or amplifiers. A little “appetizer” amplifier won’t do a better job of powering your speakers for a movie or music. To get better sound out of your system, you need a BIGGER amplifier– not smaller. To get a better picture, you probably want a bigger video monitor.

Of course, the larger Magneplanars models will outperform the “appetizer” MMG model, but, Magnepan makes the claim that it is the technology that is fundamentally different from your box speakers. And that difference in sound reproduction can be “tasted” with a small version of their large models. With a hint of humor, Magnepan “warns” consumers that if you try the MMG, you run the risk of new speakers in your future.

For more information on Magnepan, go to www.magnepan.com.

View full post on BestStuff – AudioVideo

Samsung’s Mobile Marketing head YH Lee has said that they plan on staying on board with Google and Android, over Windows Phone 7 and their own OS called Bada for the most part. This is probably a blow to Microsoft, being that Samsung has been one of their major handset partners in the past. This goes to show you, that the manufacturers want to be able to customize an already popular platform, to be relevant and at the same time differentiate themselves from the others. We would say this is for sure, that Samsung at no time, plans to stop putting their skins on top of Android.

With the sudden success of the Galaxy S phones and now the Galaxy Tab trying to get into the running, we can honestly say that we see where Samsung is coming from. It appears they have found the perfect OS to pair with–since Microsoft abandoned their old Windows Mobile platform to head to a platform that has less customizability. All in all this makes us happy because, this means more Samsung Android products for us in the future.

[via electronista]

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It’s official. Announced today at the IFA trade show, the Samsung GALAXY Tab will first hit Europe at the end of September, then the United States and Asia soon after. The GALAXY Tab is powered by Android 2.2 and touts a 7-inch TFT display, TouchWIZ user interface, Adobe Flash, WiFi, GPS, rear and front facing cameras. It has PC-like web-browsing and also acts as a mobile phone. Weighing in at .84 pounds, the GALAXY Tab includes 16 GB or 32GB of internal storage and 32 GB MicroSD expansion.

In the HD video department, the GALAXY Tab supports playback of MPEG4, H.263, H.264, XviD, and is the first DivX certified tablet. Kobo will be the e-reading app for the device.

Pricing on the Samsung GALAXY Tab has not yet been announced.

Get more information at http://galaxytab.samsungmobile.com

Press release:

Samsung GALAXY Tab Opens a New Chapter in Mobile Industry

A New Smart Media Device, surpasses mobile boundaries, allowing you to enjoy more possibilities on the go

September 2nd, 2010 – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd, a global leader in mobile technology, today announced the launch of the Samsung GALAXY Tab (Model: GT-P1000). Powered by Android Operating System 2.2, the Samsung GALAXY Tab is the first of the company’s tablet devices, representing a new category of mobile products for Samsung.

The Samsung GALAXY Tab brings together all of Samsung’s leading innovations to provide users with more capabilities while on the move. Consumers are able to experience PC-like web-browsing and enjoy all forms of multimedia content on the perfectly sized 7-inch display, wherever they go. Moreover, users can continuously communicate via e-mail, voice and video call, SMS/MMS or social network with the optimized user interface.

“Samsung recognizes the tremendous growth potential in this newly created market and we believe that the Samsung GALAXY Tab brings a unique and open proposition to market. There is a new and emerging consumer demand that Samsung can satisfy since mobile is in our DNA. This demand continues to grow and develop as users tap its limitless potential,” said JK Shin, President and Head of Mobile Communications Business, Samsung Electronics. “The Samsung GALAXY Tab has been designed to enable consumers to maximize their online experience wherever that may be. The Samsung GALAXY Tab is pushing the market in new directions and Samsung believes this is only the beginning of its innovations as pioneers in smart media devices.”

A new concept of mobility for media

As a new category of device, the Samsung GALAXY Tab brings a wealth of mobile experiences. Its striking 7″ TFT-LCD display delivers exciting mobile experience for watching films, viewing pictures, e-reading or sharing documents. In design, its light (380g) build provides perfect portability, with its svelte dimensions making it easy to grip and use. Supporting the latest Adobe Flash Player 10.1, the Samsung GALAXY Tab fully supports swift, seamless viewing of every single page of the web.

The ‘Readers Hub,’ Samsung’s unique e-reading application, provides easy access to a vast digital library – from classical literature to the latest bestsellers and reference materials. At the same time, Samsung unveils ‘Media Hub,’ a gateway to a world of films and videos, and ‘Music Hub,’ an application giving access to a wide range of music tunes.

The Samsung GALAXY Tab has made rich communication truly mobile; it presents a level of converged technology that moves beyond mobile or PC to an entirely new category. Users have new powers to consume, create and communicate from wherever they are.

Powerful, always-on communication

With 3G HSPA connectivity, 802.11n Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth 3.0, the Samsung GALAXY Tab enhances users’ mobile communication on a whole new level. Video conferencing and push email on the large 7-inch display make communication more smooth and efficient. For voice telephony, the Samsung GALAXY Tab turns out to be a perfect speakerphone on the desk, or a mobile phone on the move via Bluetooth headset.

Powered by a Cortex A8 1.0GHz application processor, the Samsung GALAXY Tab is designed to deliver high performance whenever and wherever you are. At the same time, HD video contents are supported by a wide range of multimedia formats (DivX, XviD, MPEG4, H.263, H.264 and more), which maximizes the joy of entertainment.

While the front-facing camera allows face-to-face video telephony over 3G, the rear-facing camera captures still images and video that you can edit, upload and share, all without any hassle. As online content explodes, the Samsung GALAXY Tab is the best portable solution for every lifestyle that needs a constant connection.

The Samsung GALAXY Tab will be launched in Europe in mid September, and in other markets including Korea, the US and Asia in coming months.

Applications of the Samsung GALAXY Tab

The Samsung GALAXY Tab is packed with services to complement and enhance your life in different ways. Access to Android Marketplace lets users download apps and personalize their device infinitely. In addition, there are pre-loaded applications uniquely designed and optimized for Samsung smart phones and smart media devices.

Readers Hub – Samsung Readers Hub consolidates e-reading applications such as eBooks, magazines, and newspapers. Users can enjoy ‘reading’ with unified and intuitive user experience powered by global eReading service leaders, Kobo, PressDisplay and Zinio. More than 2 million books including today’s best sellers, over 2,500 titles of magazines in 20 languages and more than 1,600 newspapers in 47 languages are available at launch and will grow the library gradually.

Google Mobile Services – Services like Google Maps Navigation (Beta) and Google Goggles are available on Google’s Android platform. With useful location-based services like Google Maps, consumers can search in Standard English instead of entering an exact address. A search-by-voice function is just as intuitive, meaning searches can also be completed easily on the go. Google Goggles is a powerful, visual search tool that uses the Samsung GALAXY Tab’s camera to uncover information – an image of a landmark or artwork is automatically used to perform a search, delivering relevant content like a description or history. In addition, with a camera, users can enjoy various augmented reality services which are downloadable in the application market.

More applications will be available from Samsung Apps.

The Samsung GALAXY Tab (GT-P1000) Product Specifications

• Network:2.5G (GSM/ GPRS/ EDGE): 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 MHz, 3G (HSUPA 5.76Mbps, HSDPA 7.2Mbps): 900 / 1900 / 2100 MHz
• OS: Android 2.2 (Froyo)
• Display: 7.0 inch TFT-LCD, WSVGA (1024 x 600)
• Processor: Cortex A8 1.0GHz Application Processor with PowerVR SGX540
• Camera: 3 MP Camera with Auto-Focus and 1.3MP front camera for Video Telephony
• Connectivity: 30 pin connector, WiFi 802.11n / Bluetooth 3.0
• Sensor: Gyroscope sensor, Geo-magnetic sensor, Accelerometer, Light sensor
• Memory: 16G / 32G internal memory with up to 32G external memory slot
• RAM: 512 MB
• Size: 190.09 x 120.45 x 11.98mm, 380g
• Battery: 4,000mAh (7 hour movie play)

Value-added Features:

• Android Market and Samsung Apps for more applications and contents
• Readers Hub, Media Hub* , Music Hub*, Social Hub
• *Availability will be decided by market preference.
• Adobe Flash 10.1 player support
• Full HD video playback, Thinkfree Office, Swype, Hybrid Widget

* All functionality, features, specifications and other product information provided in this document including, but not limited to, the benefits, design, pricing, components, performance, availability, and capabilities of the product are subject to change without notice or obligation.

SOURCE Samsung Electronics

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