Sweet is war to those who have never experienced it - Latin proverb
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Samsung's Android social notworking phone tips up
KOREAN ELECTRONICS GIANT Samsung has penned a deal with Orange to flog its latest Android handset, the Galaxy Apollo.
The handset is being punted towards the social notworking generation and to that end the deal will give buyers the ability to take up a once in a lifetime offer for a free case. Not impressed? You should be. Samsung say the "exclusive case" comes in eight different colours though the lucky chaps will only get to choose one. Ah, the agony of choice.
Despite case frivolities the device is mustard with a 720MHz ARM Cortex A8 chip and running Android 2.1. Sadly the 3.2-inch screen is severely let down with a resolution of just 240x400. As the device is being pitched to social notworking addicts, Samsung has bunged together a 'social aggregator' which it calls "Social Hub".
The software is similar to that of Motorola's Motoblur that was lauded for its capabilities last year. Samsung's iteration ticks all the right boxes with support for Facebook, Myspace and Twitter among other sites of varying uselessness.
Samsung has seemingly embraced Google's Android, releasing a number of devices loaded with the Linux-based operating system. Unsurprisingly given the capabilities of Android, it seems that the firm's punters are liking the setup with Simon Stanford, head of mobile at Samsung Electronics UK and Ireland giving the operating system a glowing recommendation.
"Consumers are really responding to the Android platform which offers an extensive range of innovative apps to download, as well as the ability to multi-task with apps running in parallel."
Hardly surprising words from Mr Stanford given that the firm just launched a handset utilising Google's latest and greatest. However with Samsung having a wide range of devices catering to different areas of the market, the firm might represent Google's best opportunity to move away from having its operating system installed only on high-end, low volume devices.
At this point neither Orange nor Samsung have released pricing or release dates, though it was confirmed that the handset will be available on both pay-as-you-go and monthly contracts.µ
Tags: Google
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Samsung had proven again that they are hardware MAKER, not developer, not designer, Samsung may have fancy physical design, but they company culture still lags in understanding what market and what customer want.
Samsung has already proven with several of their Android phones that they do not understand what an OS is, what upgrades are, or what honoring promises is.
Samsung Galaxy i750 users are stuck with 1.5 Cupcake. Samsung Behold II users had to b*tch and threaten a class action suit to get their forthcoming upgrade to 1.6 after which support for the phone will be dropped like a stone.
The Android community also CANNOT get around these limitations due to Samsung failing to offer any clues to their closed source and DRM protected driver architecture.
Samsung may be embracing Android, but it clearly does not "get it".
I bought a Samsung Galaxy i750 last October and it is still stuck on Android 1.5 with no prospect of Samsung offering an upgrade even to 1.6. Draw your own conclusions about Samsung's interest in its customer once it has shifted the hardware.
How do I joint the notworking generation !!