Samsung Unveils Galaxy Tab 10.1, Galaxy S II

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Samsung Unveils Galaxy Tab 10.1, Galaxy S II

Posted by timothy on Sunday February 13, 2011 @10:10AM from the no-usb-what-are-you-smoking dept.

An anonymous reader writes "At the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Samsung unveiled two new Android devices: the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, running Android 3.0 (codenamed Honeycomb), and the Samsung Galaxy S II, running Android 2.3 (codenamed Gingerbread). The two have been leaked over and over for days, but now we finally have the official details."

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Good by WrongSizeGlass · 2011-02-13 10:16 · Score: 1

More competition in this market means more choices for consumers. I hope the new Galaxy & its data plans are priced a bit better in the US than its predecessor's. The data plans for it that Verizon offers certainly make it less desirable.
1. Re:Good by dean.collins · 2011-02-13 10:17 · Score: 2
  
  bit dissapointed no usb and no hdmi.....limits connectivity and "adjunct" tools.
2. Re:Good by Qwavel · 2011-02-13 10:37 · Score: 4, Informative
  
  It has a PDMI connector.
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PDMI
  This is a docking, charing, and connection port which includes support for USB3 and DisplayPort (which is easily converted to HDMI). It is like the non-proprietary equivalent of Apple's dock connnector.
  Like you I am sad that this thing doesn't just give us a USB port, but a PDMI port will be a very good thing once they catch on and become widely supported, and if a lot of these Android tablets have PDMI ports then they will catch on soon.
  The worst thing that could happen would be for each Android manufacturer to create their own proprietary and incompatible docking port. And it must have been tempting because then they get to make extra money charging crazy amounts for accessories.
3. Re:Good by Qwavel · 2011-02-13 10:55 · Score: 2
  
  Maybe I spoke to soon.
  Can anyone confirm whether this is PDMI or proprietary?
4. Re:Good by karnal · 2011-02-13 12:12 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  Seriously, why would I want a PDMI or whatever other type of port? I'm seriously getting sick of having to buy adapters for every device just for the sake of simple communication.
  I currently have to have a breakout connector for my HTC Fuze (yes, I know, outdated - but I'm holding out for dual core goodness) and am just as miffed at it for not having a dedicated 3.5 audio jack. I mean really, what's the point? Having to carry another breakout cable with me to gain basic functionality is something I will not consider again in a portable device.
  
  --
  Karnal
5. Re:Good by X_Bones · 2011-02-13 13:14 · Score: 2
  
  And what happens when you want to have a USB device and a DVI/HDMI device plugged in at the same time? PDMI is stupid. Why combine a general-purpose connector with a display-specific one?
  
  --
  
  the coolest club on /.
6. Re:Good by Overzeetop · 2011-02-13 14:37 · Score: 1
  
  Not likely. No usb, bleeding edge connector (=not universal), no GPS, no removable storage at all. This is a color Kindle with lousy battery life that can play video. This model isn't equipped for CDMA/LTE networks, but even if it was, Verizon would still rape you with monthly fees.
  
  --
  Is it just my observation, or are there way too many stupid people in the world?
7. Re:Good by Anonymous Coward · 2011-02-13 14:40 · Score: 0
  
  > means more choices for consumers.
  I'm not a consumer, thank you very much. I am a customer who chooses where, if anywhere, to place my custom.
  You can go and "consume" all you like.
8. Re:Good by Anonymous Coward · 2011-02-13 14:57 · Score: 4, Interesting
  
  Seriously, why would I want a PDMI or whatever other type of port? I'm seriously getting sick of having to buy adapters for every device just for the sake of simple communication.
  Mainly most of us don't want to be limited to 'basic' charging and data only.
  Todays phones not only need to charge and have data connectivity, but can pump sound and video out, as well as remote control connections for media players as well as have higher capacity batteries.
  What you are seemingly asking for is a phone with a bunch of huge jacks all around it.
  Most of us don't want a USB jack for power/data, a 1/8" headphone jack for audio, a standard video connector which is limited to either composite (RCA) for the low end, or VGA (db15h) for higher end.
  The next smallest you will find for video is HDMI, which then raises the temptation for the manufacturer to add in DRM since it's supported out-of-the-protocol-box with that one.
  Not to mention high amperage charging with the current line of power hungry devices and their matching batteries.
  The genius of Apple's connector is that all of that and more is provided in one tiny *standard* connector. It's only downside is being proprietary and thus needs licensing to make/do anything with.
  (Note that it only seems non-standard because Apple was the first to have to mass produce such a thing. That in and of itself is not bad. If they would have not required any licensing and allowed anyone to duplicate it's design, things would be about as perfect as they can get. Only their choice in not opening the connector design up is why there is any problem at all.)
  The clear answer to that problem is another type of jack, equally small and genius as Apple's, but an open standard free for all to use.
  That answer is PDMI.
9. Re:Good by ToasterMonkey · 2011-02-13 18:36 · Score: 1
  
  It has a PDMI connector.
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PDMI
  This is a docking, charing, and connection port which includes support for USB3 and DisplayPort (which is easily converted to HDMI). It is like the non-proprietary equivalent of Apple's dock connnector.
  Take your "facts" elsewhere mister, this is Slashdot!
  Galaxy Tab cannot connect to projectors simply because I cannot see a VGA port in any pictures of the device I find online in 10 seconds of searching. iPads suffer the same fate, regardless of the dock/VGA adaptors in plain sight at aisle ends in Target and Walmart. All of these devices are doomed too, because I cannot afford them, and I don't want anything I can't afford because that's how I cope with life. They're stupid toys, but I take posting on Slashdot seriously.
  =D
10. Re:Good by AmiMoJo · 2011-02-14 02:41 · Score: 1
  
  One problem with using USB for power is that normal USB ports can only supply 500mA. Most USB chargers will supply 1000mA and the phone detects them by seeing if the USB data lines are active or not.
  Therefore if you plug the phone into a real USB port it only gets half as much power and takes a lot longer to charge. In fact on many phones if you are actively using it with wifi turned on it might only be enough to maintain current battery levels and won't charge at all. My old HTC Hero was like that, and my newer Galaxy S only charges very slowly if in use.
  You can get around the problem by using a dual-port cable, i.e. one which plugs into two USB ports and provides a total of 1000mA. You need to cut the data lines to the phone end too.
  
  --
  const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
  SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
Still at these prices? by Anonymous Coward · 2011-02-13 10:20 · Score: 3, Interesting

If Samsung wants the Galaxy Tab to take off, it needs to slash the price by at least a couple of hundred dollars. The first-generation tab sells for $600, even though its capabilities are not so much beyond smartphones of two years ago, and you're getting Android instead of a full-featured OS.
The trend for electronics to decrease in price does not seem to have started yet for mobile. In a sense, we're still like those saps from the early 1980s who paid thousands (in 1980s dollars!) for desktops that even then were clunky.
1. Re:Still at these prices? by Anonymous Coward · 2011-02-13 12:04 · Score: 0
  
  Sells at the Sprint store for $299
2. Re:Still at these prices? by Anonymous Coward · 2011-02-13 12:20 · Score: 1
  
  Is that the no contract price? I didn't think so. I already have a data plan for my smartphone, I'm not going to get another one for a tablet. If I get a tablet, and it really needs mobile internet, it can wireless tether to my smart phone. But, the main reason I want a tablet is to read scientific papers and other things, in places where I have WiFi. If I am on the go, my smartphone will be sufficient. Try to read a PDF document on a widescreen low res laptop or a cell phone. Now a 10" tablet, you can hold in portrait mode, and won't be much smaller then a piece of paper. You can see the whole page at once. Right now if I want to read one, I have to either suffer through seeing only a portion of the document at once, read it at a desk with a large high res LCD, or print it.
3. Re:Still at these prices? by BobSutan · 2011-02-13 19:13 · Score: 1
  
  Fully agree. At 7" it needs to undercut the iPad, so maybe $299 for a WiFi only and maybe $399 for a 3G or 4G capable version. For the 10" model they need to look at $499 for the WiFi only version, and maybe $599 for the 3G/4G model--at that's at the high end IMO. And of course as generations progress those prices need to come down by $50-100 a year if they're going to continue with the 6 month product cycles. "Off brand" tablets like the Archos will need to be even cheaper, which they've already demonstrated is possible with a $300 10" model. Once decent alternatives become more widespread HP and Apple will have no choice but to lower the ceiling on their non-flagship models. If the 7" Galaxy Tab is even made a year from now I expect it to be in the $199 range if they have any hope of it being competitive with what will be on the market, although this is HP and Apple we're talking about here so I'm not holding my breath.
  
  --
  "On a scale from 1 to 10, people are stupid"
4. Re:Still at these prices? by cas2000 · 2011-02-13 20:26 · Score: 2
  
  The trend for electronics to decrease in price does not seem to have started yet for mobile
  
  That's because the end-user isn't really the manufacturer's customer. The telcos are. Almost all mobile phones are sold by Telcos (or their agents) in a bundle with a voice and/or data plan.
  This has an enormous anti-competitive effect on the market. More than enough to counteract the pricing trends in the direct-to-consumer electronics markets
  It's also why many features that end-users would like (e.g. an answering machine app, an an alternative to the telco-provided voicemail) are missing. There's no great incentive to create them...and, for some features, a huge disincentive if they're the kind of feature that might piss off a telco
5. Re:Still at these prices? by cas2000 · 2011-02-13 20:31 · Score: 1
  
  damn. clicked 'submit' rather than 'continue editing'.
  i meant to add that it's in the telcos' interests for mobile phone prices to stay high. It makes it much easier for them to trap people into long-term contracts. if "current" phone prices were only $100 or $200 rather than $600-$900, there's be a lot more people who just bought their phones outright and shopped around for the best voice&data deal.
  in short: phone prices are artificially high just to make the bundled phone+overpriced plans seem a much better deal than buying the phone outright.
6. Re:Still at these prices? by xaxa · 2011-02-14 00:31 · Score: 1
  
  That's because the end-user isn't really the manufacturer's customer. The telcos are. Almost all mobile phones are sold by Telcos (or their agents) in a bundle with a voice and/or data plan.
  That applies to a much lesser extent (or not at all) outside the US.
  
  The trend for electronics to decrease in price does not seem to have started yet for mobile
  is just wrong. I can buy a phone with a big screen and MP3 player for less than £10, or one with a camera for £25. A cheap touch-screen phone is about £70 (Nokia 5230), or an Android one for £125. How is this not the normal electronics price decrease? The latest smartphone costs £300-600, but then the latest top-of-the-range fancy laptop costs two to three times as much as a normal laptop. All electronics are like that.
7. Re:Still at these prices? by Gilmoure · 2011-02-14 03:09 · Score: 1
  
  True. I mean, Apple's entry level tower system has gone from $2300 back in '93 down to... um... $2300 now. Ah-ha! The current system is faster and has more RAM! Can't believe they were charging $2300 for only 33Mhz with 32MB of RAM back then. What were they thinking?!!!
  
  --
  I drank what? -- Socrates
8. Re:Still at these prices? by t2t10 · 2011-02-14 04:03 · Score: 1
  
  If the Tabs hadn't been selling, they would have dropped the prices more. They are probably selling as well as they want to to clear inventory. Once there is competition and once they have manufacturered a larger batch, they'll drop the prices further.
9. Re:Still at these prices? by Anonymous Coward · 2011-02-14 09:56 · Score: 0
  
  It's like that in the US too, but the GP seems to have forgotten to look at anything other than the latest and best smartphones. Even last year's android models are $100 with no contract, and regular old dumbphones are in the $5-25 range as you listed.
10. Re:Still at these prices? by Anonymous Coward · 2011-02-15 10:14 · Score: 0
  
  How is this not the normal electronics price decrease? The latest smartphone costs £300-600, but then the latest top-of-the-range fancy laptop costs two to three times as much as a normal laptop. All electronics are like that.
  NOT so fast!
  All products come in several price ranges, yes. However, inedible products stabilize at much lower prices as demand and supply for them increases. Do a few searches for dSLR cameras and see how 10 years ago nobody would dream of them costing under $1,500*. The problem is that collussion and monopolies such as that of the USA's mobile industry screws with the prices and removes te supply of old units almost as soon as the year is over. Thus, you can't find a cheap Nikon S200 pointandshoot camera --you find a "feature-rich" S200 with a number like S210 the year after, at full price.
  dSLRs are still $400+, but there is a growing hybrid market where features professionals use at the high end start bleeding cheaply into the older sets to ensure that this year's model is slightly more attractive than last year's equivalent product line.
  NOTE: USD prices here, in contrast to the parent's British pounds
11. Re:Still at these prices? by cas2000 · 2011-02-19 13:28 · Score: 1
  
  That applies to a much lesser extent (or not at all) outside the US.
  
  what makes you think I'm in the US? I'm not. I live in Australia, and (as in most of the rest of the world) almost all mobile phones here are sold indirectly through bundling deals with telcos.
What is the icon for this supposed to be? by bobstreo · 2011-02-13 10:23 · Score: 1

A tricorder?
Or maybe a TRS-80?
1. Re:What is the icon for this supposed to be? by Anonymous Coward · 2011-02-13 10:33 · Score: 0
  
  a fruit machine with an additional glory hole?
2. Re:What is the icon for this supposed to be? by NitroWolf · 2011-02-13 13:45 · Score: 1
  
  It's a ST:TOS tricorder, yes.
No USB, no HDMI video out? by Anonymous Coward · 2011-02-13 10:24 · Score: 0

Lame.
Is there an SD slot? Please tell me there's an SD slot at least.
I know space and weight are a premium, but why such a limited hardware interface? And why proprietary? What's the point of recording video if you have to hook it up to a computer and transfer it in order to play it on a TV or other output device? I suppose they expect to sell adapters and have users lug them around.
1. Re:No USB, no HDMI video out? by WrongSizeGlass · 2011-02-13 10:45 · Score: 1
  
  Is there an SD slot? Please tell me there's an SD slot at least.
  It doesn't look like it ... though it does have a SIM slot. SIM generates more revenue than SD ...
2. Re:No USB, no HDMI video out? by Desler · 2011-02-13 12:13 · Score: 2
  
  And why proprietary?
  It's not proprietary. The article writer didn't bother to do 5 seconds of searching to find out that PDMI is an ANSI/CEA standard.
3. Re:No USB, no HDMI video out? by happymellon · 2011-02-13 12:44 · Score: 1
  
  Yes, in this video he pulls off the back and you can see the micro sd card slot.
  http://www.viddler.com/explore/mobileburn/videos/418/
4. Re:No USB, no HDMI video out? by happymellon · 2011-02-13 12:45 · Score: 1
  
  There is one:
  http://www.viddler.com/explore/mobileburn/videos/418/
5. Re:No USB, no HDMI video out? by WrongSizeGlass · 2011-02-13 13:12 · Score: 1
  
  He was asking about the new Galaxy Tablet. The S II does have a micro SD card but the Tablet does not.
6. Re:No USB, no HDMI video out? by exomondo · 2011-02-13 16:42 · Score: 1
  
  What's the point of recording video if you have to hook it up to a computer and transfer it in order to play it on a TV or other output device?
  DLNA? Play it straight to whatever device.
7. Re:No USB, no HDMI video out? by Totenglocke · 2011-02-13 19:24 · Score: 1
  
  Yea, no micro SD / SD slot, no USB port, no HDMI port, AND no physical buttons? Congratulations Samsung - I went from looking forward to the Tab II to being guaranteed to never buy one.
  
  --
  "The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." ~Thomas Jefferson
Missed the mark by Taxman415a · 2011-02-13 10:27 · Score: 2

Yeah, no USB and no HDMI drastically reduces the devices usefulness. With those a tablet could be a truly mobile computer. That leaves a big opening for the iPad 2, though I'd be surprised if Apple added both of those given how they have not yet offered the ability to connect to external storage on any of their iDevices. I don't see much that this Tab 10.1 offers better than before besides the speakers and the dual core processor. It's not that those are nothing, just not what it could have been.
1. Re:Missed the mark by Anonymous Coward · 2011-02-13 10:39 · Score: 1
  
  The original Galaxy Tab had a standard (altough not so standard because no one else use it yet) dock connector. I am sure you can get a dock->HDMI cable. Unlike the iPad, it is NOT a proprietary connector. I hope they didn't change that for the Galaxy Tab 2.
2. Re:Missed the mark by davester666 · 2011-02-13 15:47 · Score: 0
  
  Yes, those two features are definitely holding back the iPad, and it's clearly reflected in their sales.
  Oh, wait. Only a few thousand nerds are demanding those features.
  
  --
  Sleep your way to a whiter smile...date a dentist!
3. Re:Missed the mark by Taxman415a · 2011-02-15 01:24 · Score: 1
  
  The original Galaxy Tab had a standard (altough not so standard because no one else use it yet) dock connector. I am sure you can get a dock->HDMI cable. Unlike the iPad, it is NOT a proprietary connector. I hope they didn't change that for the Galaxy Tab 2.
  According to Wikipedia's article on PDMI:
  
  "DisplayPort signal can be converted to HDMI format using active converter circuitry in the dock or external signal conversion adapter powered by 3.3 V DisplayPort power.
  So in other words in order to get HDMI you have to carry around a bulky dock and/or extra device. PDMI does have USB, so hopefully it allows use of both of those at the same time. Either way, it's much more clunky than having them built in. Being able to hook the tablet up to a monitor and keyboard and external storage would make it much more useful. In that case it wouldn't matter that those things are large and unportable, the use case would be having a monitor and keyboard at the office and at home or the ease of hooking into a projector. I suppose it's not the end of the world to carry a VGA adapter and a dock connector, but it defeats part of the purpose of the small tablet.
Nope by Simple-Simmian · 2011-02-13 10:29 · Score: 0

This isn't the Tablet I am looking for.
Supposedly the `market' can do better.
How come it's not doing so?

--
If you don't like what I write don't be a CS and mod it down. Refute it.
Yea I can't spell. So what is your point?
1. Re:Nope by blackest_k · 2011-02-13 10:54 · Score: 1
  
  You might try the archos 70
  its running 2.2 has hdmi out and apparently a full bluetooth stack and has usb if its the same as the 7 the usb can be host as well.
  it does however lack gps or 3g but hopefully the gps functionality can be added in via a bluetooth gps unit. the 3g i don't particularly care to have since i can simply link with my android phone using barnacle.
  price wise its pretty cheap around the same as a netbook i've seen them selling for 250 euro's
  http://www.archos.com/products/ta/archos_70it/index.html?country=us&lang=en
  
  --
  Blarney Quality Restaurant, Plants
2. Re:Nope by zaivala · 2011-02-13 11:22 · Score: 1
  
  Stop playing Jedi mind tricks on me!
3. Re:Nope by PopeRatzo · 2011-02-13 11:28 · Score: 1
  
  it does however lack gps or 3g but hopefully the gps functionality can be added in via a bluetooth gps unit.
  Not having 3g is a feature for me, not a problem.
  
  --
  You are welcome on my lawn.
4. Re:Nope by blackest_k · 2011-02-13 21:51 · Score: 1
  
  to be honest who needs 3g on a tablet.
  with the archos7 you have to root it to use adhoc networks the 70 does it out of the box my mobile provider lets me buy 500mb internet access a month for 5 euro's with data speeds to 7.2mb on a 99 euro samsung europa that is more than adequate.
  
  --
  Blarney Quality Restaurant, Plants
"Leaked" by ludomancer · 2011-02-13 10:32 · Score: 3

"The two have been leaked over and over for days, but now we finally have the official details."
Haha, I haven't seen anything on it. Was this written by a pouty marketing guy who "leaked" his own products and no one cared? ;)
Still stuck on Eclair by Anonymous Coward · 2011-02-13 10:34 · Score: 0

From a usability point of view, I love my captivate. However, I'd be hesitant to purchase another product from this pairing of hardware vendor / wireless provider. My phone is still stuck on Eclair (Android 2.1) and there is no official way to upgrade it - the FAQ on their site states that they are unable to speculate on a release date.
A question about Android by Anonymous Coward · 2011-02-13 10:35 · Score: 1

I read somewhere (maybe on slashdot) that Android 3.0 Honeycomb is not suitable for phones... why?
1. Re:A question about Android by usul294 · 2011-02-13 10:55 · Score: 3, Informative
  
  The UI changes to the homescreen would be bad on a screen smaller than 7". Multiple windows, side menus, physical buttons replaced by software buttons, size of buttons relative to the screen, this sort of thing. Essentially with the bigger screen, screen space can be taken up by secondary needs (launcher, menus, options, etc), whereas on the small screen, 95% of the screen is dedicated to the user's immediate content, and things are relatively big to improve the user experience. In Honeycomb, UI elements are smaller, and screen area can be dedicated to not just a primary task, but useful information and quick access to facets of the program formerly hidden behind the menu button.
2. Re:A question about Android by treeves · 2011-02-14 08:02 · Score: 1
  
  I just saw something that suggests that Honeycomb *is* coming to mobile phones. Flash 10.2 mobile apparently requires Android 3.0 and "they" say Flash 10.2 is coming to mobile phones, therefore...
  (example citation: http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/flash-10-2-honeycomb-smartphone/)
  
  --
  ...the future crusty old bastards are already drinking the Kool-Aid.
"doesn't have a USB or HDMI port" by Misagon · 2011-02-13 10:36 · Score: 2

That broke it for me ...
You can connect a proper keyboard to an iPad through a USB adapter or Bluetooth, and even some phones come with HDMI these days! Why can't we have them!?

--
"We mustn't be caught by surprise by our own advancing technology" -- Aldous Huxley
1. Re:"doesn't have a USB or HDMI port" by Gaygirlie · 2011-02-13 10:52 · Score: 1
  
  That broke it for me ...
  I was a tad intrigued about Galaxy Tab 10.1 at first, seeing how it sports Honeycomb and a 10.1" screen, but yeah, not having a USB port killed my interest quite fast.
2. Re:"doesn't have a USB or HDMI port" by pointybits · 2011-02-13 11:14 · Score: 1
  
  It does support Bluetooth keyboards, all tablets with Honeycomb will (the Galaxy S also supports them through some Samsung customizations). HDMI and USB is provided through the dock connector and the $50 multimedia dock.
3. Re:"doesn't have a USB or HDMI port" by fuzzyfuzzyfungus · 2011-02-13 11:19 · Score: 1
  
  This thing does have a docking connector of some sort. Assuming that they aren't total assholes, it should be a PDMI connector, which is amply capable(USB2OTG, USB3 slave and host, displayport, some charging lines) and a standard, albeit not yet widely deployed.
  
  If it is some samsung proprietary port, then that is nearly useless. It'll have all the openness of Apple's pet connector, with far less ubiquity. Hooray!
4. Re:"doesn't have a USB or HDMI port" by DaveOrZach · 2011-02-13 11:38 · Score: 1
  
  I can see why you want a USB port for a table; transfer photos from cameras, share files via a flash drive, and a keyboard. I'm sure a 80% of the tablet market could find a use for USB port or USB adapter (I'm not a fan of the iPad adapter but it does work.) The added expense of the USB port would increase sales. The increase in sales would offset the increased cost of the tablet and increase profits. I don't think a significant majority needs a HDMI port at this time. The number one feature of a tablet is it extremely portable; laying in bed or couch at odd angles is one reason why I use my tablet. Having it tethered to your TV sounds like a pain in the ass. It also means I'd have to carry a cable with me at all times or leave one plugged into my TV and hope others others have a spare HDMI cable with their TV. Non-slashdot people won't like that solution and their purchasing power is much larger than the slashdot crowd. Apple's Airplay or similar technology is the better answer but Airplay isn't supported by other manufacture (I'm 99% sure it is proprietary.) The small increase of sales would not offset the increased cost of the tablet and decrease profits.
5. Re:"doesn't have a USB or HDMI port" by AndrewStephens · 2011-02-13 12:20 · Score: 2
  
  Assuming that they aren't total assholes...
  What do you base this assumption on?
  
  --
  sheep.horse - does not contain information on sheep or horses.
6. Re:"doesn't have a USB or HDMI port" by fuzzyfuzzyfungus · 2011-02-13 12:25 · Score: 1
  
  Nothing. It was purely a hypothetical. Given that this is samsung, quite possibly a contrafactual hypothetical at that...
7. Re:"doesn't have a USB or HDMI port" by JanneM · 2011-02-13 12:46 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  A tablet with video output would be very convenient for presentations, though. Quite a lot of people do slide presentations as part of their work - researchers, university teachers, salespeople and public relations-people and many others. This would mean one less reason to bring a notebook in addition to - or instead of - your tablet.
  For presentations the port absolutely has to have a VGA output or be easily converted to it. Most projectors in public venues have only VGA input - I've yet to see a digital input offered anywhere so far - and without it, a tablet would be useless for this.
  
  --
  Trust the Computer. The Computer is your friend.
8. Re:"doesn't have a USB or HDMI port" by SuperKendall · 2011-02-13 18:04 · Score: 1
  
  The iPad has a dock to VGA adaptor, presumably so would the Tab?
  When speaking I always travel with connectors for VGA, DVI, and HDMI - you never know what you will find when you get there, even if you ask ahead of time.
  
  --
  "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
9. Re:"doesn't have a USB or HDMI port" by Anonymous Coward · 2011-02-13 19:03 · Score: 0
  
  i picked up a viewsonic gtab recently just for that reason. can't wait to get honeycomb on it!
  there are a few hardware letdowns, no gps (easy to hook up bluetooth gps tho...) and the screen isn't as nice as the ipads.
  we're working on hacking the internals to fix some of these shortcomings. there is an unpopulated mini pci-e slot and a space for doubling the memory. the screen uses industry standard connector, we're trying to find an IPS screen that will drop right in.
10. Re:"doesn't have a USB or HDMI port" by DrXym · 2011-02-13 21:36 · Score: 2
  
  I have very mixed opinions about the connector. If it is (as some suggest) PDMI, an industry standard for connectors / docks then I understand the move. It means lots of choice of comparatively cheap cables, docks etc. to choose from. Place the PDMI compliant tablet into the dock and you get keyboard, HDD, charging etc. all from a single connector. I still think a device should still offer micro usb port in addition for simple charge / copy file actions.
  If on the other hand this is Samsung playing a fast one and aping Apple with proprietary ports (or even a modded PDMI one) and expensive adapters then screw them, screw them all the way to hell. They're not the only tablet manufacturer in town and there will be other tablets which use standard connectors. Many of them will be cheaper too.
11. Re:"doesn't have a USB or HDMI port" by AmiMoJo · 2011-02-14 02:22 · Score: 1
  
  I have a Galaxy S and bluetooth keyboards work fine. Video out is via the headphone jack, not sure but I think it does 720p.
  
  --
  const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
  SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
Samsung Support by stoolpigeon · 2011-02-13 10:48 · Score: 4, Informative

Based on my experience with my Galaxy S - I'm not going to be buying a Samsung phone again real soon.
I just got 2.2 and the manner to upgrade was pretty lame. (Requires a PC and software that only runs on 32 bit windows) I don't expect to ever get 2.3 on it. When I bought it 2.2 was "just around the corner", which turned out to be around a year.
The GPS is busted, Samsung has never, to my knowledge, addressed the issue and I've just come to accept that my phone doesn't have GPS. I've seen some fixes that involve opening up the phone and messing with some parts, but I'm not interested.
The screen is gorgeous, a lot of things work well, but for what I payed ($500) I expect all of it to work well and for decent support.

--
It's hard to believe that's how Micronians are made. Why don't we see it right now by having you both kiss one another?
1. Re:Samsung Support by Anonymous Coward · 2011-02-13 11:15 · Score: 0
  
  Can't comment on much of what you've said, but can see the phone has only been available for 8months, so around a year for the upgrade is something of an exageration. 2.2 hasn't even been available for a year.
2. Re:Samsung Support by TheyTookOurJobs · 2011-02-13 11:22 · Score: 0
  
  Samsung on the Galaxy S AND the Moment have permanently lost me as a customer.
3. Re:Samsung Support by Anonymous Coward · 2011-02-13 11:24 · Score: 0
  
  Your reasons are part of why I don't buy Korean and Chinese designed equipment. They almost always look better on paper than in practice.
4. Re:Samsung Support by gblfxt · 2011-02-13 11:35 · Score: 2
  
  it seems the 2.2 update fixed my gps on the vibrant, but yes, a year later does suck.
5. Re:Samsung Support by Anonymous Coward · 2011-02-13 11:39 · Score: 0
  
  You're lucky. Customers on AT&T in the US still don't have 2.2 officially at this point. I completely agree with your sentiments -- gorgeous screen, horrible support.
6. Re:Samsung Support by pointybits · 2011-02-13 11:43 · Score: 3, Informative
  
  Blame your carrier, people in the rest of the world have had the 2.2 upgrade since October-November last year.
7. Re:Samsung Support by thegarbz · 2011-02-13 11:44 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  I couldn't disagree more. Well I agree on some parts. Keis is a retarded piece of crap, but it runs just fine on every version of windows i've tried including 64bit variants. By fine I mean as much as iTunes runs fine. After all that is exactly what they were going for. Update to Froyo was painless and I wated longer on my carrier then on Samsung.
  
  As for the GPS, mine obtains quality locks within 10-20 sec, and for kicks we drove through the city once with my phone, the Navigon app and my Garmin GPS. The phone did great, the Garmin kept dropping out and thinking w were on the wrong street.
  
  Sucks that you had a bad experience, but as long as Samsung release the promised 2.3 update for my phone, this will be the first in a many long line of Samsung devices I throw my money towards. - Posted from Galaxy S
8. Re:Samsung Support by rrossman2 · 2011-02-13 11:44 · Score: 1
  
  My GPS acted up with the stock 2.1 firmware, but that was it. I re-flashed the phone and all was good. I've since moved on to 2.2, and now a 2.2/2.3 hybrid ROM and haven't had an issue since.
9. Re:Samsung Support by Anonymous Coward · 2011-02-13 11:56 · Score: 0
  
  I had a similar experience with the Moment. Sprint and Samsung lost my business due forever to that POS. I'm now rocking a G2 on T-mobile, with 2.2 out of the box, and already running a rather slick Gingerbread experience by way of Cyanogen Mod 7. It's a beautiful thing.
10. Re:Samsung Support by stoolpigeon · 2011-02-13 13:24 · Score: 1
  
  I loaded Keis on my 64 bit, win 7 machine and it would not recognize that the phone was connected. I couldn't figure out the issue until I found a post on the t-mobile site that said it had issues on 64 bit machines. ( Here is the thread http://forums.t-mobile.com/t5/Samsung-Vibrant/Samsung-Vibrant-software-upgrade-to-Android-2-2-Froyo-now/td-p/678871 )
  This does remind me of another issue with the phone though. For whatever reason, it doesn't work as a mass storage device via usb unless the drivers are downloaded and installed from Samsung first. There are a completely set of different drivers that need to be installed for using Keis. Again, this is completely lame. What's worse is there are none released for Linux. To get that to work I need to use the Android SDK.
  I'm glad your GPS works well, but I think we can both agree that a very large number of people don't share your experience. Googling "fix vibrant gps" returns about 348,000 results and so far the one fix that is supposed to be the most reliable is in the xda forums and involves opening up the phone and messing with the gps antenna or something. I didn't read it all because I new I wouldn't do it.
  
  --
  It's hard to believe that's how Micronians are made. Why don't we see it right now by having you both kiss one another?
11. Re:Samsung Support by Anonymous Coward · 2011-02-13 13:58 · Score: 0
  
  KIES works with Windows7 64bit just fine.
12. Re:Samsung Support by Anonymous Coward · 2011-02-13 14:05 · Score: 0
  
  Yeah. My Gps works very well also. I did some minor tweak (software relate) the first week I had it. Also applied the one click lag fix after the first month. Great phone really. All those things should have been taken care of out of the box by the carrier or Samsung. But seriously, the Nexus S is based on the Galaxy S. It really is a rockin awesome phone that had a couple early Quality Control issues out of the gate. But very quickly and easily fixable.
  I'd def choose the next Galaxy from Samsung. Samsung is doing great to compete against the iPhone. And yeah I love the iPhone 4. It is a better device.
  Love the Android freedom though :-)
13. Re:Samsung Support by downundarob · 2011-02-13 14:12 · Score: 1
  
  Really?? Still waiting for my 2.2 upgrade, but it is Telstra Australia I'm waiting on, so it may be 2015 before that happens.
14. Re:Samsung Support by Anonymous Coward · 2011-02-13 14:41 · Score: 1
  
  I've the international SGS 9000 here. I rooted it and put a custom ROM on it the minute I got it home ( - no, this doesn't void your warranty as you'd flash back to stock ROM if you'd need to). Rooting isn't needed to flash a custom ROM btw.
  By doing this I get way longer battery life, instant GPS lock, Android 2.2.1. 2.3 is around the corner with test versions of Cyanogen Mod out there for the SGS9000. Most things work, but it's still alpha/beta quality.
  Having said that, if you buy an Android device and want to receive the latest updates I suppose you have to buy from Google or HTC. (look at Sony, is their X10 on 2.2 yet?)
  The ROM I'm using is Darky's ROM if anyone's interested. Eagerly awaiting Cyanogen mod to be stable.
15. Re:Samsung Support by Anonymous Coward · 2011-02-13 14:51 · Score: 0
  
  its not samsung. its your damn USA carriers. i got an international galaxy s. i have froyo since 5 month officially. 7 with the betas. and 2.2.1 since 2 solid month. what i dont have and dont know if we will get is 2.3. so blame carriers. samsung isnt great software wise but theyre ok. the browser is even GPU accelerated
16. Re:Samsung Support by fatmatt_oz · 2011-02-13 15:59 · Score: 1
  
  My gripe isn't so much that they took so long to put out a software/OS upgrade for the Galaxy S. The real problem was that the Samsung released such a crappy version of Android to start with, this isn't about OS version numbers it's about the software either not working or not working well. My HTC carrying friends weren't complaining about a lack of responsiveness from their phones or random crashes anywhere near as much as the Samsung people. I'm running one of the custom/modded firmwares now and I can see how the phone is supposed to work given it's hardware. I tell my friends to look at the HTC's or buy an Iphone if they ask me now.
17. Re:Samsung Support by pointybits · 2011-02-13 16:38 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  According to this all the other Australian carriers already have it. Some European phones have an official version 2.2.1 upgrade now, which is a huge performance improvement. You can flash custom ROMs with this as a base. Also Cyanogenmod 7 for SGS, based on Gingerbread, is in alpha testing.
18. Re:Samsung Support by Anonymous Coward · 2011-02-13 17:18 · Score: 0
  
  kies works fine here, Windows 7 64-bit.
19. Re:Samsung Support by Anonymous Coward · 2011-02-13 18:38 · Score: 1
  
  I would suggest a custom rom such as Darky's. I have been running 2.2 on my Galaxy S with various roms since October last year. Very easy to do and easy to change roms, no need to use Kies. It also made my GPS actually work.
  But in the future I wholeheartedly agree that I will not be purchasing another Samsung phone unless they release 2.3 for the Galaxy S soon. I am not holding my breath.
20. Re:Samsung Support by thegarbz · 2011-02-13 19:23 · Score: 1
  
  I've seen about as many people say the supposed GPS issue is a software problem (See AC's reply below min) as a hardware problem. I wonder how many of the problems are actually legit compared to people seeing their GPS unit which spend every day connected vs the phone they just opened and tried GPS for the first time. The initial GPS fix took close to 3 minutes, but then that was expected and IMO still quite fast for a device with no historical or A-GPS data available at the time. The GPS Status app shows that it finds about 7 satellites within 30 seconds, now admittedly my Holux hardware GPS logger finds 9-10, but it also cost about half as much as the entire phone. I am still of belief that a large number of problems are the result of people not knowing or simply expecting too much.
  
  Same reminds me of the lag issue. Now we all know that there was a fundamental performance limiting flaw in Samsung's implementation of Andriod, that is not up for debate, and IMO quite a poor bit of work on Samsung's part. Yet a google search to see if the issue is fixed on 2.2 will yield a 50/50 split between the "Hellz yes Froyo 4tehwin" group vs the "No, the lag is still present, and nothing has changed on the file system" group. Now I got a minor speed improvement with the upgrade, but nothing compared to applying a lagfix.
  
  By the way legitimate question: Did you have any problems with your usb mass storage? Because even before I installed Keis 1.5 or 2 I had USB mass storage working out of the box for Win 7 x64 and x32. What didn't work understandably is if I select Keis when I plug the phone in. This is actually the first I've heard of the USB issue, and I'm beginning to wonder if there's two different phones on the market or if it only affects phones in a certain geographical area.
21. Re:Samsung Support by Vectormatic · 2011-02-13 20:04 · Score: 1
  
  HTC took quite a while to update the desire to 2.2, the legend took even longer.
  They did update though, which in the current market is a credit to them, besides, the desire is an excellent piece of hardware
  
  --
  People, what a bunch of bastards
22. Re:Samsung Support by Nagrom · 2011-02-13 20:30 · Score: 1
  
  Where have Samsung promised 2.3 for the Galaxy S I? I've only seen that tweet from Samsung India from a while ago, which isn't exactly the most official of channels and was swiftly removed. I mean, I'm pretty much assuming they'll be providing it, if they're doing the work for the S II anyway, but I haven't seen an actual statement to that effect.
  The worst thing about Kies is how ridiculously fiddly it can be to get it to connect. I have to quit LauncherPro, otherwise the crappy Kies software phone-side thinks the phone isn't idle, and often I need to plug it into my PC more than once for Kies to successfully pick it up. Meanwhile, USB mass storage just works without any problem and connecting with Odin to root it has always been painless.
23. Re:Samsung Support by Nagrom · 2011-02-13 20:33 · Score: 1
  
  By the way legitimate question: Did you have any problems with your usb mass storage? Because even before I installed Keis 1.5 or 2 I had USB mass storage working out of the box for Win 7 x64 and x32. What didn't work understandably is if I select Keis when I plug the phone in. This is actually the first I've heard of the USB issue, and I'm beginning to wonder if there's two different phones on the market or if it only affects phones in a certain geographical area.
  Personally I've found, having done it on numerous different machines now, that Windows will manage to cope with the phone just fine but usually it takes two attempts at plugging it in for it to work. The first time installs the drivers but usually produces an error message about failing to install the device properly but then if I remove and reattach it then it works fine, and it works every time from then on as well.
24. Re:Samsung Support by Kashgarinn · 2011-02-13 21:38 · Score: 1
  
  Samsung has a history of crap support, their support for I8910 which was the Galaxy S predecessor is gone, even though the phone was released just 2 years ago.
  Think about that, they released a product 2 years ago, and they've stopped any and all development for it, they've stopped any and all support for it, and the worst of it is that they didn't release anything as open source so that hobby developers could extend functionality for it, they just told everyone who bought an I8910 to go fuck themselves.
  I'm never going to buy a Samsung product which depends on them having to upgrade it, or depends on them having to support it in the future, so something like the tab, nope. Forget it.
25. Re:Samsung Support by Dexy · 2011-02-13 22:05 · Score: 2
  
  The Galaxy S has been better supported in Europe. We've had 2.2 since October, and 2.2.1 since January.
  Samsung has actually continually tried to release fixes for the GPS issue, but the more fixes they released the more they broke it. The 2.2 update fixed it for good.
  And Kies runs on my Win7 64-bit computer fine thank you very much.
26. Re:Samsung Support by Anonymous Coward · 2011-02-13 23:03 · Score: 0
  
  Update to Froyo was painless and I wated longer on my carrier then on Samsung.
  It doesn't matter who's fault it is —the reality is that samsung phones are updated after several months if they're updated at all. On other platforms (iOS) minor releases are available worldwide on the same day, and major releases are available as pre-releases several months in advanced for developers & geeks.
27. Re:Samsung Support by AmiMoJo · 2011-02-14 02:27 · Score: 1
  
  You can actually get 2.3 now if you install a custom ROM based on the Nexus S, which is basically the same phone.
  I too have had excellent results with the GPS. My old Hero could never lock on if it was moving too much (e.g. on a train or in a car) but the Galaxy S has no problems. Google maps has some issues with thinking you are on a different street, but iGo and Navigon work perfectly so I assume it is a problem with that specific app.
  I like being able to watch 720p video on the TV in my hotel room via the phone's TV out.
  
  --
  const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
  SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
28. Re:Samsung Support by Anonymous Coward · 2011-02-14 03:18 · Score: 0
  
  hey you described exactly what happened to me, except I noticed one thing. I saw a post about a guy who called into tmobile and got a replacement galaxy s phone, and THAT new phone had a GPS fix.
  i decided WTH, so I did the same thing. i called in and said my GPS was broken and they immediately sent me a new one via ground shipping, and the new phone has the GPS fixed! it locks on much much faster and is actually accurate.
  the android OS issue was/is lame though....
29. Re:Samsung Support by enec · 2011-02-14 05:42 · Score: 1
  
  I agree. I'm a (very dissatisfied) owner of a Samsung Galaxy Spica. When I bought it it shipped with Android 1.5, but Samsung promised to deliver 2.1 "soon".
  In the end it took something like three months of "any day now", and they didn't offer the chance to upgrade OTA. When I installed Samsung New PC Studio (a complete rip-off of Nokia's PC suite btw, with the exception that Nokia's suite works) to update, I first had to struggle a few hours to get the software to recognize my phone at all. When it finally did, I had to select the "update" option for the phone half a dozen times until the software managed to connect and realize that there was an update out for my phone.
  After the software started updating and put my phone in some sort of recovery mode, the computer would helpfully tell me that my phone had been disconnected and an unknown, malfunctioning USB device had been plugged in. Needless to say the PC studio software didn't ever finish updating, it thought the phone was unplugged as well and usually crashed.
  I tried to update using different operating systems, different computers, different versions of their PC suite, different data cables, et cetera. Finally I gave up and took the phone to Samsung after sales service. The fsckers kept my phone for three weeks, and when I finally got to pick it up they said they had updated the OS to Android 2.1... Guess what? It was still on 1.5, and all they had done was reset the phone to factory defaults. Something I could've done in two minutes.
  
  --
  I'm sorry, I only accept criticism in the form of sed expressions.
30. Re:Samsung Support by thegarbz · 2011-02-14 11:15 · Score: 1
  
  Saw it on some news site the same day Slashdot had a post about Motorola not releasing updates, not that it matters since the XDA release will likely come out much sooner anyway.
31. Re:Samsung Support by thegarbz · 2011-02-14 11:22 · Score: 1
  
  Actually it very much matters who's fault it is. I could have a HTC, a Motorola, I could have anything, and it won't make a difference if my carrier doesn't apply it's shitty customisations and then push the update down the line. Case in point Samsung was VERY quick to push through Froyo 2.2.1, I still don't have it available here and that has zero to do with Samsung.
  
  Now let's not use the term "other platforms" as if this is a Samsung or an Andriod problem. The reality here is that iOS is the ONLY mobile platform which conforms to your desire of instant updates. The rest of them be it Andriod, WebOS, (do Windows Mobiles get updates too?), all have multiple devices, from multiple carriers, and a delay in updating is what we come to expect, and quite frankly not getting an instant update on my phone the day it comes out ranks about as highly as the chewing gum on the sole of my foot when it comes to what I and many other people care about when buying a phone. I mean shit most of us haven't actually ever had a phone that could be updated.
MWC Has not even started yet by Anonymous Coward · 2011-02-13 10:56 · Score: 0

WTF? Samsung unveiled at MWC?
The congress has not even started yet ...
It starts Tomorrow 14th.
Great! Another device they won't update... by mykos · 2011-02-13 11:26 · Score: 1

I still feel terrible about recommending a Samsung Fascinate to a friend last year, thinking a Froyo update was just around the corner. So far they've fixed none of its bugs, and that Froyo update that I thought she's get in September might be coming out this month.

I don't know if I will support a company who takes a fire-and-forget approach with their devices. I mean, other phone makers do it too, but they're the masters of device apathy.
1. Re:Great! Another device they won't update... by JonySuede · 2011-02-13 11:43 · Score: 1
  
  I hope you learn your lesson: never, ever recommends hardware that you did not use. Especially to someone of the opposite sex.
  
  --
  Jehovah be praised, Oracle was not selected
2. Re:Great! Another device they won't update... by polaris20 · 2011-02-13 13:05 · Score: 1
  
  I agree. Android is great, but Samsung is definitely not the company you want to pick for devices. Will the Galaxy Tab ever get the 3.0 update? Probably not. Will it even get 2.3? Probably not. Nice $600 device.
3. Re:Great! Another device they won't update... by Anonymous Coward · 2011-02-13 13:32 · Score: 0
  
  Ummm, we're talking about phones, right?
4. Re:Great! Another device they won't update... by gmhowell · 2011-02-13 14:22 · Score: 1
  
  I hope you learn your lesson: never, ever recommends hardware that you did not use. Especially to someone of the opposite sex.
  I might recommend a Hitachi Wonderwand, but no way in hell am I using one. Given my biology, I'm not even sure how I would... (And no, I don't need a link to a Rule 34 explanation of how a guy would use one.)
  
  --
  Jesus was all right but his disciples were thick and ordinary. -John Lennon
5. Re:Great! Another device they won't update... by BrendaEM · 2011-02-13 14:45 · Score: 1
  
  I agree! It's like the "bow upgrade" from the Thief video game, a running joke. The trick is figuring out to keep people from buying Samsung products until they support them.
  
  --
  https://www.youtube.com/c/BrendaEM
6. Re:Great! Another device they won't update... by Anonymous Coward · 2011-02-13 20:09 · Score: 0
  
  dragging biology into this, i question your idea of recommeding this "wonderwand" (not googling that one at work, i'll just assume the obvious)
  is said female attractive (enough)?
  Yes: why the hell are you recommending anything but your own "wonderwand"
  No: why are you talking to her anyway? (and please dont answer "i have to, she's my mom")
  any other response bypasses a primary biological imperative (procreation)
7. Re:Great! Another device they won't update... by Vectormatic · 2011-02-13 20:15 · Score: 1
  
  buying a device for future (and in sony's case current) functionality is stupid, and has always been stupid in the world of technology.
  Sure, the expected 2.2 update was an argument for picking up my current HTC (and they actually did update), but i would have been satisfied with the device with 2.1 loaded just fine.
  when you buy a device, buy it based on the current specs/features and be happy with it, anything else is just gravy
  
  --
  People, what a bunch of bastards
8. Re:Great! Another device they won't update... by dzfoo · 2011-02-13 22:10 · Score: 1
  
  But if you don't use it, what business is it of yours to recommend one? Your friends must think you're weird.
  -dZ.
  
  --
  Carol vs. Ghost
  ...Can you save Christmas?
9. Re:Great! Another device they won't update... by dzfoo · 2011-02-13 22:14 · Score: 1
  
  I hear you, bro! I'm still waiting for that darn Keyboard Component that will bring into my house a true "Intelligent Television."
  -dZ.
  
  --
  Carol vs. Ghost
  ...Can you save Christmas?
10. Re:Great! Another device they won't update... by polaris20 · 2011-02-14 03:05 · Score: 1
  
  buying a device for future (and in sony's case current) functionality is stupid, and has always been stupid in the world of technology.
  Sure, the expected 2.2 update was an argument for picking up my current HTC (and they actually did update), but i would have been satisfied with the device with 2.1 loaded just fine.
  when you buy a device, buy it based on the current specs/features and be happy with it, anything else is just gravy
  I see your point, but I respectfully disagree. These aren't just simple consumer electronics. They are mini computers that store a lot of personal information in many cases. There are a lot of security holes that Google has been either slow to patch, or not at all in earlier versions. If these vendors don't release updated versions of the software, they're leaving their customers at a risk. It's not just about features. Not only that, but Apple has been fairly decent about giving a fair life to its devices. My 1st gen iPod touch went through three major OSes and several point releases. My iPad is already on its second. Imagine if you bought a computer because "you were happy with it when you bought it" but couldn't upgrade past the current OS. You may think that's not a fair comparison, but as these devices get more advanced, it's definitely becoming a fair comparison. That being said, Apple is certainly not perfect either. I had to jailbreak my iPod touch because Apple not only refused to allow me to update to 4.0, they didn't patch 3.1.3 which contained a fairly serious PDF vulnerability. Luckily with the jailbreak, I could patch that, and it continues to be a great device 3.5 years after buying it.
What? no USB or HDMI by Gbor · 2011-02-13 11:28 · Score: 1

> it uses Samsung's proprietary charging cable and > doesn't have USB or HDMI ports Who's brilliant idea was this? Android is about being open, and they leave out these bits? Besides that, didn't they heard that in the EU we've a standardized charger plug?
1. Re:What? no USB or HDMI by Desler · 2011-02-13 11:41 · Score: 1
  
  What the fuck are you talking about? The Galaxy S and S II use micro-usb for the charging cable. Micro-USB is neither Samsung's nor is it proprietary.
2. Re:What? no USB or HDMI by pointybits · 2011-02-13 11:46 · Score: 1
  
  The tablet uses a PDMI cable which is a standard, albeit an emerging one.
3. Re:What? no USB or HDMI by gblfxt · 2011-02-13 11:50 · Score: 1
  
  he was quoting from the article, which states it will be using a proprietary charging cable, and no USB (im guessing that includes micro-USB)
4. Re:What? no USB or HDMI by Desler · 2011-02-13 12:07 · Score: 1
  
  The article is wrong. The pictures of the Galaxy S II shows a microusb charging port in the same spot as on the original.
5. Re:What? no USB or HDMI by Desler · 2011-02-13 12:09 · Score: 1
  
  And to further add, just like was pointed out in the other response, PDMI is neither proprietary nor some Samsung thing. It's an ANSI/CEA standard.
6. Re:What? no USB or HDMI by gblfxt · 2011-02-13 12:35 · Score: 1
  
  Yes, in the article it is a bit confusing, I think it was referring to the Tab, and they don't mention the microUSB. I hope you are right about the Galaxy S II being microUSB, otherwise I'm not getting it for sure, I hate proprietary power... :)
7. Re:What? no USB or HDMI by gmhowell · 2011-02-13 14:25 · Score: 1
  
  Dear God those are shitty photos. This long in business and Engadget doesn't know how to use a flash?
  But you are right in that anyone can use a PDMI connector. Maybe by pushing it on this device, we get the chicken/egg question answered? And won't the micro-USB have to stick around, at least on the phone, given the EU's choice of that as a standard plug?
  
  --
  Jesus was all right but his disciples were thick and ordinary. -John Lennon
8. Re:What? no USB or HDMI by gmhowell · 2011-02-13 14:26 · Score: 1
  
  The PDMI issue brings to mind the old saw: the best thing about standards is that there are so many to choose from.
  
  --
  Jesus was all right but his disciples were thick and ordinary. -John Lennon
9. Re:What? no USB or HDMI by RoboRay · 2011-02-13 16:36 · Score: 1
  
  It may be like the NookColor which uses a modified microUSB plug for power. You can charge the NC slowly (about 8 hours from dead to full) from a standard USB port and cable at 500mA (all the USB standard allows) OR you can charge the NC fast (in 2 hours) with a proprietary cable that plugs into the microUSB port and draws 1.9A from a wall-wart.
Empty Promises by Anonymous Coward · 2011-02-13 11:39 · Score: 1

I WILL NOT buy another Samsung phone/tablet. I bought 3 Captivates when they came on on the big promises that a Froyo update was coming soon. They are now announcing the Captivate's successor and still no Froyo on the 3 I purchased.
We are getting ready to make a purchase of around 50 tablets for the company I work for. I'm not making an investment in Samsung again. If it was my personal phone I'd root the thing and be done with it, but I'm not operating the companies devices off of a hack because Samsung/AT&T can't get their crap together.
1. Re:Empty Promises by sys_mast · 2011-02-14 03:37 · Score: 1
  
  Mod Parent Up!!!
  When Rogers in Canada has the same phone, with Froyo released, and the US still doesn't have Froyo. Also Samsung has promised a GPS fix, without delivering. These are very basic things so no more Samsung.
  The problem is, it's so very close to being the best hardware (OK some may have different opinions on the very best) but if it was updated to the latest 2.x code, AND had all the hardware working(GPS) one could easily argue that the Galaxy S is on of the best phones around.
  Down with Samsung, I'll be avoiding them. How is HTC doing in this area? I've been very happy with them in the past.
  
  --
  Those who can, do.
No Loyalty from Samsung by moehoward · 2011-02-13 11:48 · Score: 2

As a Galaxy S (Sprint) owner, I am outraged at the lack of upgrade to Android 2.2 that was promised 6 or 7 months ago. Yup, I got the point back then and it is reinforced now. Sprint AND Samsung have no loyalty to existing customers. They want to churn us to the Galaxy S2, which has even less battery time because it is so "slim". I'll take triple the thickness if it gives me double the battery time. Period.
At least freaking Apple tries to do upgrades. Sure, original iPhones can't be upgraded, but this sure beats what Samsung and Sprint have colluded to do regarding using the full hardware capacity of the phone that they promised to upgrade for me.
I use Sprint because they have the best coverage in my area, 4G and all. I'll suffer with Verizon after being a 14 year loyal customer to Sprint.
Moe

--
"If you want to improve, be content to be thought foolish and stupid." - Epictetus
1. Re:No Loyalty from Samsung by Salvo · 2011-02-13 14:33 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  The fact that carriers refuse to let software updates through is pathetic. Anyone who can't get their software updated *within the warranty period* should return the device for warranty.
  I think Microsoft have the right idea of enforcing Manufacturers and Carriers to be no more than one software update behind, but it certainly has affected them in their market penetration.
  If you purchased an Apple iPhone or iPod Touch in the last 2 years (new, retail), you can still get the current OS. It may not work as well on "mature" hardware (such as the iPhone 3G and 2nd Gen iPod Touch), but you can install it.
2. Re:No Loyalty from Samsung by exomondo · 2011-02-13 16:50 · Score: 2
  
  As a Galaxy S (Sprint) owner, I am outraged at the lack of upgrade to Android 2.2 that was promised 6 or 7 months ago.
  That's a problem with shitty US carriers, everywhere else the update is available for the Galaxy S.
3. Re:No Loyalty from Samsung by Vectormatic · 2011-02-13 20:31 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  If you purchased an Apple iPhone or iPod Touch in the last 2 years (new, retail), you can still get the current OS. It may not work as well on "mature" hardware (such as the iPhone 3G and 2nd Gen iPod Touch), but you can install it.
  Then what is the point? i have a 3g ipod touch (8gb, so 2g hardware), and yes i run iOS 4.0, what did that get me over 3.x? a 3d-ish effect on the pinned appes bar at the bottom of the screen, conversation threading in the mail app (which is still miles behind the various gmail apps on other platforms) and the ability to make "folders" on my homescreen with multiple apps in them.. in return i get reduced performance when doing most things (ipod app loads slower then before etc..)
  Sure, the update works on my ipod, but to me it provides 0 value, if someone magically reverted my ipod back to 3.x, i wouldnt bother with the 4.x update again
  
  --
  People, what a bunch of bastards
4. Re:No Loyalty from Samsung by Anonymous Coward · 2011-02-13 21:56 · Score: 0
  
  Actually, the battery of the S2 has a higher capacity (1600mAh vs 1500mAh).
5. Re:No Loyalty from Samsung by Anonymous Coward · 2011-02-13 23:11 · Score: 0
  
  Bullshit. Apple is releasing updates worldwide on the same day to phones running on several hundred different carriers, including the two big ones in the US. Clearly it is possible to get around the carrier issue.
6. Re:No Loyalty from Samsung by Anonymous Coward · 2011-02-14 01:48 · Score: 0
  
  They want to churn us to the Galaxy S2, which has even less battery time because it is so "slim". I'll take triple the thickness if it gives me double the battery time. Period.
  The Galaxy S has a 1500 mAh battery, the Galaxy S II has a 1650 mAh battery - despite being slimmer. So it's a 10% increase in battery capacity, and a (reported) 20% decrease in battery usage by the display.
  While this is not a factor of 2, it's at least a step in the right direction.
  Uli
7. Re:No Loyalty from Samsung by Anonymous Coward · 2011-02-14 04:00 · Score: 0
  
  I'll take triple the thickness if it gives me double the battery time. Period.
  You should buy out an extended battery case then. It will extend your battery life by a fair bit: http://www.mobilefun.co.uk/genuine-samsung-galaxy-s-extended-battery-case-p25834.htm
Year of the tablet. by GoochOwnsYou · 2011-02-13 11:53 · Score: 2

2010 was no doubt the year of the smartphone, but it feels like the market is bordering on saturation. There are just soooo many devices out there. Think about how many phones HTC alone released to market.

2011 is looking to be the year of the Tablet, we already knew about the 10" Galaxy Tab for a while, and Samsung also have a slider model (Wintel). Asus have 4 (Slider & Transformer 10", 12" Wintel & 7"), HTC are rumored to have 3 (one not using Honeycomb) in the pipeline, plus the Motorola Xoom & rumours of an iPad 2.

I personally like having keys, thats why I got the less powerful HTC Desire Z (T-Mobile G2) over the Desire HD despite prices offered were the same (outright, unlocked). I could see myself getting the eeePad Transformer despite this Galaxy Tab & Xoom look freaking awesome.

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1. Re:Year of the tablet. by shallot · 2011-02-13 12:33 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  2010 was no doubt the year of the smartphone, but it feels like the market is bordering on saturation. There are just soooo many devices out there.
  Yeah, look what the proliferation of PCs in 1990s did to the computer market. [...] Wait, what?
  Dammit, you can't claim saturation *at least* until everyone has at least a handful of them. :)
2. Re:Year of the tablet. by GoochOwnsYou · 2011-02-13 12:40 · Score: 2
  
  Where will multiple phones suit people: especially considering they need to be on a plan. People wont fork out for more than one plan (unless there is a tax benifit for a business phone).
  
  This is the age of converged devices, the smartphone boom is comming at the shrinking (at least in the west) of MP3 players, PDA's, dumbphones and in the future possibly handheld gaming devices.
  
  --
  This sig has been distributed under the Creative Commons license.
3. Re:Year of the tablet. by GiMP · 2011-02-13 16:17 · Score: 1
  
  I went from the HTC Dream (G1) to the Motorola Droid2 for the same reason as you: the keyboard. (I didn't go T-Mo G2 as I disliked the hinge) I've found myself wholly unable to use software keyboards. I thought the iPad was neat, but like the iPhone, decided it just wasn't for me. Not only did it have a horrible on-screen keyboard, but it was heavy to boot. Enter the Galaxy Tab...
  Last week, I played with the Galaxy Tab for the first time and I must say: 7 inches is perfect for us hardware-keyboard holdouts. Yes, it is a software keyboard, but the width of the device and the size of the on-screen keys is absolutely perfect in portrait mode. I could type as well or better than I could on a hardware keyboard. Even special keys were handled quite well by the Tab's default keyboard, if I remember correctly. Related is that the smaller size equates to a smaller weight, which does help in typing.
  I was finally a convert, or at least a potential one. Before, I didn't see myself buying a tablet due to the keyboard issue, or buying one and carrying a bluetooth keyboard (might as well have a netbook..) Now, however, I see myself having a 7" tablet - nothing smaller or larger, at least not if I'm paying for it.
4. Re:Year of the tablet. by TimboJones · 2011-02-13 17:50 · Score: 1
  
  Try a software keyboard with Swype. It's downright miraculous.
5. Re:Year of the tablet. by Rennt · 2011-02-13 19:09 · Score: 1
  
  I love Swype on my phone, but was surprised to find that it is almost totally useless on a tablet. You need to move your whole hand to hit every letter, and you are limited to one finger despite the fact that ten fingers fit on the home row.
6. Re:Year of the tablet. by GiMP · 2011-02-13 20:24 · Score: 1
  
  I've tried Swype. I don't get it. I mean, I get how it works, I don't get why people like it. I want to type, I don't auto-completion or guessing. I don't want to switch context from typing to reading words from a list and then selecting them. It is slow and inefficient.
  Plus, honestly, I think that Swype is particularly bad for me as a lefty. I don't think the tracking algorithm is righty-only, though it may be, I suspect that the greater issue is that in English, we read from left-right. Since a lefty's thumb covers the left-sided keys as they Swype, you really need to read the keyboard from right-left to operate as efficiently as a right-handed user. This results in a much steeper learning curve.
  Finally, I work with Linux/Unix systems and the primary purposes of my Android device are to login to machines via SSH and to send emails. Both frequently contain Unix commands, Python source code, HTML, and other forms of non-English input that very often includes special characters. Most software keyboards fail miserably with these, and for this, Swype is particularly bad. Still, the size and layout of the default Galaxy Tab keyboard is surprisingly good, good enough that if not for being stuck on Android 2.2, I'd buy it in a heartbeat.
7. Re:Year of the tablet. by IrquiM · 2011-02-13 22:45 · Score: 2
  
  Some countries sell phones without plans!
  
  --
  This is blinging
8. Re:Year of the tablet. by GoochOwnsYou · 2011-02-13 23:38 · Score: 1
  
  You can buy a phone without a plan but can you use one?
  
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  This sig has been distributed under the Creative Commons license.
9. Re:Year of the tablet. by treeves · 2011-02-14 08:18 · Score: 1
  
  Sure, you could use it like an extra expensive iPod Touch with GPS. I would imagine that one might get frustrated at certain features not working.
  
  --
  ...the future crusty old bastards are already drinking the Kool-Aid.
So close, and yet so far... by Overzeetop · 2011-02-13 14:31 · Score: 3, Insightful

With all the good, you can't get anything onto it except via wireless or a dongle (connector cable to a PC), and you can't expand the memory (no microSD or SD slot, no usb). The connector has promise (USB, audio, control, display port), but it's a rare beast right now, so if PDMI fails, it's an instant dead end.
It also lacks a GPS chip, which means you're reliant on the cell network location for crappy mapping location services, or location via wi-fi. Hell, if I have wifi, I can just ask the guy at the table next to me where I am.
This might be interesting if it comes in at under $300. Otherwise it's going to be a pretty big yawn-fest.

--
Is it just my observation, or are there way too many stupid people in the world?
1. Re:So close, and yet so far... by Gilmoure · 2011-02-14 07:11 · Score: 1
  
  And it doesn't do as much a netbook. No one's gonna buy a device like this.
  
  --
  I drank what? -- Socrates
Galaxy S II by Machupo · 2011-02-13 14:55 · Score: 1

Hopefully this one won't shut down randomly throughout the day...

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*insert pithy sig here*
Galaxy S II has 4.3" without Gorilla Glass? by SaxtusGR · 2011-02-13 15:15 · Score: 1

WTH? No Gorilla Glass with such big screen? This is a big no-no.

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Saxtus
1. Re:Galaxy S II has 4.3" without Gorilla Glass? by dingfelder · 2011-02-13 19:08 · Score: 1
  
  1. no usb
  2. no hdmi
  3. no gorilla glass
  4. no profit
2. Re:Galaxy S II has 4.3" without Gorilla Glass? by Anonymous Coward · 2011-02-14 00:14 · Score: 0
  
  Except for the cpu/gpu it seems like a downgrade to the Galaxy S.
3. Re:Galaxy S II has 4.3" without Gorilla Glass? by Neil+Boekend · 2011-02-14 00:20 · Score: 1
  
  It seems to have PDMI, so DisplayPort (convertible to HDMI) and USB are to be expected. The article seems to be wrong on that regard.
  The lack of decent, indestructible glass is disturbing.
  The (probable) lack of updates is worse.
  
  --
  Well, I might have a way, but it only works on a semi spherical planet in a vacuum.
4. Re:Galaxy S II has 4.3" without Gorilla Glass? by SaxtusGR · 2011-02-14 03:05 · Score: 1
  
  Is there a rival phone that have the right things and is easily upgradeable? Darn, why they do that...
  
  --
  Saxtus
Buy a PDMI dock with USB and HDMI by tepples · 2011-02-13 16:23 · Score: 3, Insightful

I'd assume you buy a PDMI dock with both a USB port and an HDMI port (with internal DisplayPort->HDMI converter), and then you can plug in a self-powered USB hub and connect devices that way.
1. Re:Buy a PDMI dock with USB and HDMI by the_arrow · 2011-02-15 01:11 · Score: 1
  
  Which means you need another thing to lug around. A dock is good to have at home and/or in the office, but how many bring theirs docks with them when traveling light?
  
  --
  / The Arrow
  "How lovely you are. So lovely in my straightjacket..." - Nny
My Galaxy S by stimpleton · 2011-02-13 19:16 · Score: 1

Galaxy S fag here

If I was even 90% happy with my Galaxy S I would upgrade to the S II. And there would be another sale for Samsung.
I am not going to over dramatize to say I am grossly disappointed with the phone and I lose sleep, I dont. But I have lost confidence that buying a Samsung Galaxy Ssuccessor is prudent.

The GPS problems, the update problems, the jitteriness just do not inspire confidence. I am cautious now. Thats spells bad news for me as a repeat customer for Samsung.. The one saving grace for the Galaxy S is the fantastic camera and video

The day a competitor comes out that matches the camera resolution, video frame rate, and picture quality, is the day my Galaxy S goes on Ebay.

--

In post Patriot Act America, the library books scan you.
1. Re:My Galaxy S by Vectormatic · 2011-02-13 20:35 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  Galaxy S fag here
  I stopped reading right there
  Please leave your 4chan lingo at the door
  
  --
  People, what a bunch of bastards
No More Integration by rdnetto · 2011-02-13 20:55 · Score: 2

Having read the comments, it seems to me that Samsung is facing a problem which plagues most of the other phone manufacturers: they're used to (and only want) to producing hardware. The modern smartphone has as much computing power as a desktop did 1 decade ago, but we're still using the old, hardware-specific firmware model. We should be moving to a similar model that PCs use - the manufacturer sells you the hardware (with an OS-preinstalled), but you can pick whichever one you want and install it. The responsibility for software updates falls entirely to the software company, except for drivers. We're moving in that direction with Android, but we're still a long way off.

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Most human behaviour can be explained in terms of identity.
1. Re:No More Integration by AmiMoJo · 2011-02-14 02:35 · Score: 1
  
  There is no reason a manufacturer couldn't do that with Android. All they need do is provide suitable hardware drivers and test them with each OS update, much like on a desktop OS.
  The reason they don't is because it would make their hardware just another generic Android phone. In much the same way that laptop manufactures bundle all sorts of crapware that duplicates functionality already in the OS (wifi managers being the worst example) they want to differentiate themselves and hook people on their UI.
  There are "vanilla" ROMs available for most Android phones. Using one is similar to wiping the pre-installed crap off your PC and installing from a plain Windows disc, albeit with drivers and root access baked in.
  If you want a vanilla phone either get a Nexus S or try one of the Chinese brands that run it.
  
  --
  const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
  SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
2. Re:No More Integration by gpinkham · 2011-02-14 05:50 · Score: 1
  
  being a captivate owner I'm pissed at not having an update for Android.. but I can't solely blame Samsung.. Rogers in Canada has an updated Captivate ROM. AT&T (my provider) does not.. Why? Is it Samsung or AT&T.. My guess is more AT&T but I'm sure Samsung holds some blame.. AT&T doesn't want to provide the update because of the tethering feature..
3. Re:No More Integration by AmiMoJo · 2011-02-14 07:32 · Score: 1
  
  Just use the generic ROM. It is better anyway because it doesn't have the carrier branding crap.
  In the UK if you get your phone contract from a shop rather than the carrier (I used Phones4U) it will be unlocked and generic. Even if you didn't installing the generic ROM is easy.
  
  --
  const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
  SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
And so... by Anonymous Coward · 2011-02-14 02:02 · Score: 0

Once every 3 months, another tab will role out...
Needs standard hardware by sourcerror · 2011-02-14 02:28 · Score: 1

Don't forget that most PC hardware is standardized to some degree. You can't say the same thing about smartphone/tablet/netbook hardware.
Not buying Samsung any time soon by naasking · 2011-02-14 04:04 · Score: 1

Their Android OS upgrade policy is: you're not getting one, because it would compete with sales of future devices with the newer OS; if you want a newer OS, buy a newer device. Better still, I'll just never buy a Samsung product to begin with.

--
Higher Logics: where programming meets science.
Galaxy S I by gpinkham · 2011-02-14 05:21 · Score: 1

explains why I haven't seen the promised update for the Captivate.. "make em upgrade!"
Samsung wins either way by sootman · 2011-02-14 14:06 · Score: 1

Apple to become Samsung's biggest customer

A report from the Wall Street Journal suggests Apple is about to become Samsung's biggest customer in a deal estimated to be worth US$7.8 billion. As part of its purchase, Apple will be securing LCD displays, NAND flash memory and mobile chipsets from the Korean manufacturer. Each of these components will be used to build Apple's popular iPad and iPhone.
Samsung could quit making consumer products tomorrow and do just fine.

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Size of a PDMI dock by tepples · 2011-02-15 01:44 · Score: 1

A dock is good to have at home and/or in the office, but how many bring theirs docks with them when traveling light?
My 4-port USB hub, CyberPower model CP-H420P, fits in the palm of my hand, and I've seen smaller hubs at work (Google usb travel hub). I see no reason why there can't be a tiny device with an HDMI port and three USB ports that is just as small as this USB hub. It's probably far less bulk than the HDMI cable and USB devices (other than perhaps a flash drive) that you'll have to carry with it anyway.