Exploring the Galaxy
If a handset maker launches four new products three weeks before the world's biggest mobile phone show, it's safe to assume it's not a very major launch.
Samsung unveiled four new phones bearing the Galaxy brand today, but rather than expanding the capabilities of the hugely popular Galaxy S they instead seem to be positioned to capitalise on its fame.
The Galaxy Ace, mini, Fit and Gio are all Android 2.2 phones, but sport lower hardware specs than the Galaxy S. As Samsung was quick to point out, it has already sold over 10 million Galaxy S units, so we figure it's looking to extract maximum value from this brand by producing a handful of ‘me too' Galaxy phones, to appeal to a range of demographics.
"Following the phenomenal success of the Galaxy S and the growing popularity of Android, we wanted to make the smartphone experience accessible to a wider audience through an extended portfolio," said Simon Stanford, Samsung Mobile UK MD.
"With the Galaxy family now offering a complete range of smartphones, combining excellent hardware technology and the latest operating system, as well as engaging interactive content, we firmly believe there is something for everyone, irrespective of whether it is their first smartphone or their fifth."
We don't have prices right now, but they're all due to arrive in the UK in March, bar the Gio, which will turn up a month later. Here are a bunch of photos plus the full specs of the Ace. The others have the same spec except where key deviations have been noted.
Samsung Galaxy Ace Product Specifications
|
Network |
HSDPA 7.2 Mbps 900/2100 EDGE/GPRS 850/ 900/1800/1900 |
|
OS |
Android 2.2 (Froyo) |
|
Display |
3.5-inch 320x480 HVGA TFT-LCD |
|
Processor |
800MHz Processor |
|
Camera |
5.0-Mega Pixel Camera AF with LED Flash Single Shot, Continuous Shot, Panorama Shot, Smile Shot |
|
Video |
MPEG4/H263/H264 QVGA/15 Format: 3gp(mp4) |
|
Audio |
DNSe, MP3, AAC, AAC+, eACC+ 3.5mm Ear Jack & Speaker, Stereo FM Radio with RDS, Voice Recorder |
|
Value-added Features |
Android Market and Samsung Apps for more applications and contents |
|
Social Hub - Integrated Contacts, Integrated Calendar, Widget, Unified Inbox - Basic: POP3/IMAP Email & IM |
|
|
Samsung TouchWiz UI |
|
|
QuickType by SWYPE |
|
|
ThinkFree : Document Viewer / Editor |
|
|
Android Brower : RSS Reader |
|
|
Exchange ActiveSync |
|
|
Google MapsTM with Latitude, Places, Navigation (beta) |
|
|
A-GPS |
|
|
Voice Search |
|
|
Connectivity |
Bluetooth technology v 2.1 USB 2.0 WiFi 802.11 (b/g/n) |
|
Sensor |
Accelerometer, Digital Compass, Proximity |
|
Memory |
150MB + 2GB inbox + microSD (up to 32GB) |
|
Size |
112.4 x 59.9 x 11.5 mm |
|
Battery |
1350mAh |
Samsung Galaxy mini
3.14-inch 320x240 QVGA TFT-LCD screen, 600MHz processor, 3MP camera (no flash).
Samsung Galaxy Fit
3.31-inch 240x320 QVGA TFT-LCD screen, 600MHz processor with 3D accelerator (no flash).
Samsung Galaxy Gio
3.2-inch 320x480 HVGA TFT-LCD screen, 3.0-Mega Pixel Camera AF (no flash)
