Samsung’s Bada 2.0 to move to ‘web-centric’ apps, getting ad framework and multitasking
We're still hesitant to call Bada a "smartphone platform" in the same breath as Android and iOS -- but despite our best attempts to write it off, Samsung's homegrown handset platform keeps chugging and expanding to new hardware.
Categories: Android, Mobile Phone Tags: bada, bada 2.0, developer-event, entry, handset, korea, rumor, samsung, south-korea, web
LG Optimus 2X looks like a dual-core Star, shows off HDMI-out while embarrassing the Galaxy S on video
LG has, in the most casual fashion possible, revealed the name of a new smartphone it intends to launch in the Korean market: the Optimus 2X. That brand name was buried deep in a release yesterday about exclusive Ennio Morricone content bundled with the Optimus Mach , though some studious folks have unearthed it and subsequently found YouTube content showing off the handset
Categories: Android, Mobile Phone Tags: after-the-break, fashion, galaxy, nexus, optimus, optimus2x, result, smartphone, south-korea, star
LG enlists ‘Z Boy’ to promote Optimus Z, resembles an open source Zorro
Now that LG's new Optimus Z is available from both KT and SK Telecom in South Korea, it's obviously time to promote it -- and how better to promote a hot new smartphone launch than with a random mashup of the green Android dude and Zorro? Actually, this fella is actually "Z Boy," a tribute to the "Z" in "Optimus Z" -- but he's sporting the Zorro look as he wanders the streets of Seoul for the next month looking for victims potential buyers for the 5 megapixel, WVGA-equipped Android handset. With major entrants from Motorola, Samsung, and LG in the market, Android competition in South Korea is nearly as heated as it is across Europe and North America -- so yes, if you've got to win over a few customers with a big, lovable robot wearing a face mask, then by all means, LG, do your thing.
Categories: Android, Mobile Phone Tags: entry, fella, korea, launch, obviously-time, open-source, result, robot, seoul, south-korea, southkorea
Motorola Glam brings Android 2.1, plenty of ritz to South Korea
Yeah, it may look like the Dell Aero when peeking it head-on, but Motorola's Glam is apt to be far more sophisticated that the self-proclaimed " world's lightest Android phone ." Launched today over in South Korea, this Android 2.1-based handset (which we toyed with earlier in the year when it was known as the XT800) boasts a 3.7-inch capacitive multitouch panel (854 x 480), dual LED flash, a 5 megapixel camera, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, 3.5mm headphone jack, USB 2.0 connectivity, an HDMI socket, 1GB of NAND Flash, 512MB of SDRAM, an 8GB microSD card, inbuilt GPS and support for a multitude of multimedia formats.
Categories: Android, Mobile Phone Tags: aero, card, dell, formats, motorola, result, south-korea, today-over
Samsung Galaxy U and Galaxy K add to the alphabet soup in South Korea
SK Telecom already offers a version of the Galaxy S -- but it's often the case that two or all three of Korea's top wireless players want in on the same hot handsets, so it's no surprise to hear that rivals LG U+ and KT are both working on flavors of their own. Confusingly, they'll be called the Galaxy U and the Galaxy K -- apparently in tribute to their carriers' names -- but they'll both be a touch smaller than the original S, clocking in at 3.7 inches (see the U pictured next to an S above).
Categories: Android, htc, Mobile Phone, Other Tags: engadget, flavors, galaxy, galaxy u, galaxyu, korea, lguplus, often-the-case, samsung, south-korea, street
LG Optimus Z now available in South Korea
Announced back in April , LG has now launched its so-called Optimus Z Android handset on a pair of South Korea carriers -- SK Telecom and KT -- bearing model numbers SU950 and KU9500, respectively. You've got the usual range of features like a 3.5-inch WVGA display, 5 megapixel cam, DivX compatibility, and support for LG's neat Air Sync service, but what really sets these bad boys apart is something LG is aptly calling "On Screen Phone": using Bluetooth, you'll be able to see and interact with the Optimus Z's screen from your PC, which is awesome when you're too lazy to extract the thing from your pocket.
Categories: Android, Mobile Phone Tags: between-devices, boys, entry, megapixel, mobile, model, optimusz, south, south-korea, su950, transfer-files
Nexus One is sold out in Google’s store — forever
Google warned us that the Nexus One was approaching the end of its days, but we've gotta admit, we didn't realize just how quickly that moment would come. Sure enough, Google's official online store for the phone now just shows an ominous message that "the Nexus One is no longer available for purchase directly" from the company, which means you're going to have to go through Vodafone, KT in South Korea, or hold out for the units that they plan on selling directly to registered developers. Needless to say, for the bulk of potential customers, the phone is all but history.
Categories: Android, Mobile Phone, nexus one Tags: breakingnews, froyo, google-phone, googlephone, message, nexus, ominous, ominous-message, Purchase, result, south-korea, vodafone
iPhone 4 coming to Canada and 16 other countries July 30th
Not much of a surprise here, but Apple has now finally revised its previous "by the end of July" iPhone 4 launch timeframe for some of the remaining international countries to a specific date: July 30th. That includes Canada, a whole host of European countries, plus Australia, New Zealand, and Hong Kong. Absent from that list, however, is South Korea, which had been among the "end of July" group, but has apparently been pushed back to an unspecified date due to a delay in receiving government approval
Categories: Mobile Phone, Other Tags: iphone, kong, launch, other-countries, south-korea, southkorea, specific-date, surprise
Google halting Nexus One sales through official store after current inventory depleted
We knew this was eventually coming , and here it is: Google is giving everyone the heads-up that it just got a fresh batch of Nexus Ones in stock, and once they've been sold through, they'll no longer be offered directly through the company's online store. For what it's worth, the customer service lines will stay open even after that happens -- and you'll still be able to buy a phone through KT in South Korea, Vodafone in Europe, and "possibly other [retailers] based on local market conditions" -- but by and large, your average American is going to have a hard time getting one pretty shortly. If you're a registered Android developer, though, Google's looking at continuing to offer the device through some sort of sales partner -- a wise move considering it'll be just about the only thing you can buy unlocked running a clean-slate latest build
Categories: Android, Mobile Phone, nexus one, Other Tags: breaking-news, clean, customer, engadget, entry, europe, giving-everyone, lines, official-store, online, slate, south, south-korea, stock, store
iSuppli: OLED panel shortage a concern for Android smartphone makers
Everyone wants an OLED display on their cellphone, right? Ok, maybe not everybody , especially when compared to regular AMOLED , but we certainly want, no demand , a 4-plus inch Super AMOLED on our next Android smartphone
Categories: Android, htc, Mobile Phone, Other Tags: au optronics, entry, growth, massive, numbers, samsung mobile display, smd, south-korea, taiwan-based, tpo, tpo display technologies