Samsung Galaxy S3: Which US carrier should you choose?

 Transfer Your Photos, Videos, Music, Documents and more in a flash, by simply plugging in your Beyond USB into your Smartphone or Computer. Very simple and easy for all to use. Get Yours Today! 

http://beyondusb.com/

 

Samsung Galaxy S3: Which US carrier should you choose?

• By Sebastian Anthony on June 20, 2012 at 8:52 am

Share This article

Tomorrow, June 21, the Samsung Galaxy S3 arrives in the United States. A carpet bomb launch will see the phone arrive on all four major carriers — AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile — at the same time, at the same price ($200 for the 16GB version, with a two-year contract). Verizon, Sprint, and US Cellular will also offer the 32GB variant for $250. But which carrier is the best choice for the Galaxy S3?
Fortunately, as you may have noticed, Samsung seems to have pulled off the impossible and convinced every US carrier to call the Galaxy S3… the Galaxy S3. For the time being at least, we won’t be seeing the same hyperbolic noun treatment that previous Galaxy S phones went through (Fascinate, Vibrant, Epic 4G, Epic 4G Touch, etc.) This has the knock-on effect that almost every Galaxy S3 available in the US will be virtually identical — at least hardware-wise.
Every US Galaxy S3 has the same Snapdragon S4 MSM8960 dual-core 28nm SoC, clocked at 1.5GHz, with the Adreno 225 GPU. They weigh the same (133g), have the same battery life (around 9 hours), have the same 2GB of RAM, and most importantly, they all have Qualcomm’s awesome multi-mode 2G/3G UMTS & HSPA/4G LTE radio. The only difference as far as we can tell is that the T-Mobile variant (SGH-T999) doesn’t support LTE, and the AT&T/Verizon/Sprint models (SGH-i747, SCH-i535, SPH-L710 respectively) don’t support T-Mobile’s HSPA+. We believe the Snapdragon S4′s radio might be reconfigurable with some firmware hacking, however; it might be possible to take a T-Mobile S3 and use it on AT&T’s LTE network.
All US Galaxy S3 phones support Bluetooth 4.0 LE, 2.4 and 5GHz WiFi a/b/n/g, and NFC. Except for the Sprint variant (SPH-L710), it is likely that all Galaxy S3s are quad-band GSM and should be capable of GSM roaming in Europe and Asia.

As you’ve probably guessed by now, the main difference between the Galaxy S3 on each carrier is bloatware. While all of the carriers’ S3s will have Samsung’s fancy new apps (S Voice, AllShare Play, Media Hub, etc.), each carrier will have a different selection of bloatware on offer. The Sprint S3 will come with the usual Sprinty stuff (Hotspot, SprintZone), plus Dropbox and Google Wallet. The AT&T S3 is relatively svelte, with just the normal AT&T apps (Navigator, Messages, myAT&T) and YP Mobile. Neither the Verizon or T-Mobile S3s have been released for review, so we won’t know how bloated they are until they arrive on our doorstep tomorrow.
All Galaxy S3s will run Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, skinned with Samsung’s TouchWiz.
Except for bloatware, then (which you can easily remove), any Galaxy S3 purchased from a US carrier will be virtually identical. There are still two very important variables to discuss, though: Network speed, and the international quad-core Galaxy S3 (GT-I9300).
While the US Galaxy S3 is an LTE phone, there isn’t actually a whole lot of LTE coverage in the USA. Fortunately, our sister site PC Mag has just published its Fastest Mobile Networks 2012 guide. While Verizon is the overall 3G/4G winner, there were still 11 cities where T-Mobile’s HSPA+ network provided faster download speeds than Verizon LTE, and where AT&T LTE is available it simply blows away the competition.
Bear in mind that Sprint’s 4G LTE network is almost nonexistent (though its Network Vision upgrade is underway). T-Mobile is also beginning to roll out LTE (alongside HSPA+), though again you will probably have to hack the radio firmware to be able to use it.
Before you pick a carrier for your new Galaxy S3, I strongly suggest you check the 3G and 4G speeds for your city or region.
Finally, it’s worth remembering that you can also buy an unlocked, off-contract international (i.e. non-US) quad-core Galaxy S3 (GT-I9300) for around $800. The GT-I9300, with its 1.4GHz Exynos 4 Quad and Mali 400 GPU, seems to clock in significantly higher scores in GPU benchmarks, JavaScript benchmarks, and CF-Bench (a multi-core CPU and memory benchmark). Battery life seems to be roughly the same, but the Exynos version only has 1GB of RAM vs. the Snapdragon’s 2GB.
If you don’t like bloatware, it’s also important to note that there’s already a CyanogenMod 9 (i.e. vanilla Ice Cream Sandwich) build for the GT-I9300 — though I’m sure it’ll only be a matter of days or weeks before we see CM9 for the SGH-i747, SCH-i535, SPH-L710, and SGH-T999. The GT-I9300 should work on AT&T’s HSPA+ network, but it will be incompatible with T-Mo, Verizon, and Sprint.

What is USB OTG

Home > USB OTG

USB OTG

Short for USB On-The-Go, an extension of the USB 2.0 specification for connecting peripheral devices to each other. USB OTG products can communicate with each other without the need to be connected to a PC. For example, a digital camera can connect to a PDA, or a mobile phone can connect to a printer or a scanner, as long as all the devices are USB OTG-compatible. USB OTG grew from the increasing need for portable devices to be able to communicate with each other as the culture of technology moves away from a PC-centric world.
One of the important features of USB OTG is that the standard does not require a host PC in order for the devices to communicate. USB OTG devices, known as dual-role peripherals, can act as limited hosts or peripherals themselves depending on how the cables are connected to the devices, and they also can connect to a host PC.


Transfer Your Photos, Videos, Music, Documents and more in a flash, by simply plugging in your Beyond USB into your Smartphone or Computer. Very simple and easy for all to use. Get Yours Today! 

Visit http://www.BeyondUSB.com for more details!

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 Review by techspot.com

Until Amazon's Kindle Fire hit the market late last year, no Android-powered tablet had made even the smallest of impacts on the marketplace. With its $199.99 price tag and customized user interface, the Kindle Fire was a real success.
Samsung is now aiming to grab a significant piece of that success by building its own low-cost Android tablet. The catch is that Samsung's new entry, the Galaxy Tab 2 7.0, looks anything but low-cost. In fact, it features a much better spec sheet than the Kindle Fire, and uses the same streamlined body design as its more expensive brethren.
With a price of $249.99 for the Wi-Fi-only model, the Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 is an instant best buy. And when you consider that it is one of the few devices on the market to offer Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich as its operating system, it's even more of a steal.

Hardware

From a hardware perspective, the Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 looks much like any other recent Samsung tablet. This particular model features a black front with a titanium silver rear cover, and it feels very nice in your hands. There's a lot to be said for the 7-inch tablet form factor.
The 7-inch TFT display on the Tab 2 7.0 offers users 1024 x 600 pixels of resolution. The colors it generates are very bright, and the display's viewing angle is surprisingly good for such an inexpensive device.
Dual speakers flank the 30-pin Samsung connector that is found on the bottom of the tablet (when held in portrait mode). The volume and power keys are on the upper right edge of the tablet, and a 3.5mm headphone jack can be found up top. The 3.5mm jack also supports a line-in function.
The Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 measures up at 193mm x 122mm x 10.4mm (7.6in x 4.8in x .41in), which makes it a bit thinner than Amazon's Kindle Fire, though its tapered design makes it feel even thinner than it really is. It weighs a perfectly fine 345g (12.2oz), making it a device that you can hold for hours on end without fatigue.

Usability

While Android isn't as user-friendly as, say, webOS or iOS, Samsung has at least added a few things that make the system more usable than stock Android. Users will enjoy, for example, the mini-apps that can be overlayed on the screen at any time. Mini-apps like the calculator and music player are invaluable. Samsung's updated main menu is also a big bonus, since users can re-arrange apps into any order they like.
While Android 4 shares much with the 3.2 Honeycomb OS that we saw on the first round of Android tablets, there's a bit more polish to how things work, and the result is a better overall experience. As long as you're using the included apps, that is. Apart from those, there are few third party apps currently available that are actually designed with tablet form factors in mind.
But still, Samsung's built-in apps, like the email client and the screen capture feature, feel just fine and make the most of the tablet's form factor. Contacts can be pulled in from either Gmail or Facebook, but there's no real social network support on the device otherwise. You'll have to load your own apps for that. The keyboard offered on the 7.0 is also pretty basic, and you won't find high-end input systems like Swype pre-loaded.
But at least the dual-core 1GHz processor seems to have more than enough power to provide a smooth experience when using the tablet, and that's worth a lot. Especially at its bargain price.

Calling / Data

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 offers no built-in wireless network support apart from Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n for connecting to a home or public Wi-Fi access point. The 7.0 does feature a microphone and speaker, as well as a forward-facing camera, which make it ideal for use with VoIP applications like Skype.
The Tab 2 7.0 also features USB connectivity through its proprietary 30-pin Samsung connector, and there's always Bluetooth 3.0 for using the Tab with devices like wireless stereo headphones and speakers. An infrared port allows the Tab to work as a TV/home entertainment remote control, too.
Users looking for HDMI output will need to use an adapter or a docking station (not included), but the tablet does support DLNA through Samsung's AllShare application.

Messaging

One thing that the Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 does real well is messaging. Even though its 7-inch screen offers relatively low resolution, it is still more than adequate for a nice split-screen email messaging experience. There is an included dedicated Gmail client for Gmail users, but the Samsung email app can be used for accessing most any type of email account - including corporate Exchange servers.
Samsung's ChatOn messaging system is also available, and users of Google Talk instant messaging will also find their app in place. Social network users can download free Twitter, Facebook, and other apps from the Google Play Store if the included Google+ client doesn't cover things.

Transfer Your Photos, Videos, Music, Documents and more in a flash, by simply plugging in your Beyond USB into your Smartphone or Computer. Very simple and easy for all to use. Get Yours Today! Visit http://www.BeyondUSB.com for Details!

Samsung Galaxy S2 Skyrocket Vs. Nokia Lumia 900: A Tight Battle between High-End Smartphones

Perhaps one of the most baffling devices slated for an early 2012 release is the Nokia Lumia 900. Despite glowing reviews and a Best in Show award at the 2012 CES, the device has not exactly sold as briskly as expected.
However, this isn’t much of a surprise, as consumers are generally partial to iOS and Android-powered handsets.  This is especially true for US customers, who make up the largest mobile phone market share in the world.
But is a Lumia 900 Windows Phone really better than a top-of-the-line Android phone, say, the Samsung Galaxy S2?

Here’s a quick comparison between these devices.
The Galaxy S2 does have a slight advantage on paper in the processing speed/processor department. After all, it has a 1.5 GHz Qualcomm dual-core CPU under the hood. The Lumia 900, on the other hand, has a 1.4 GHz Qualcomm single-core CPU.
However, despite Windows Phone software limiting the Lumia 900 (and other Windows Phones) to a single-core, the Lumia 900’s motor has posted benchmark speeds comparable to your average dual-core.
Camera and video quality also goes to the Galaxy S2, albeit slightly. Both devices have the same 8-megapixel camera, but in terms of video recording, it’s the Galaxy S2 that is capable of 1080p recording. Moreover, the Galaxy S2 has the better front-facing camera at 2 megapixels – twice the quality of the Lumia 900’s.
The Lumia 900 has more battery juice than the Galaxy S2, as it is capable  of approximately 7 hours and 20 minutes talk time. That’s a half-hour more than what the Galaxy S2 is capable of.
Apart from that, everything else appears to be almost even. The Galaxy S2’s screen size is just a tad larger than the Lumia 900’s (4.5 inches as opposed to 4.3) and both devices feature 16 GB internal storage and support 4G LTE.  Overall, we’d say the Galaxy S2 is the better device, but the Lumia 900 deserves better than its initial sales figures may suggest.

Visit http://www.BeyondUSB.com for more! Transfer Your Photos, Videos, Music, Documents and more in a flash, by simply plugging in your Beyond USB into your Smartphone or Computer. Very simple and easy for all to use. Get Yours Today!

The Samsung Galaxy Note is perfect for data centric consumers (review) By Matthew Miller

The Samsung Galaxy Note is perfect for data centric consumers (review)

By Matthew Miller | April 2, 2012, 7:01am PDT

Transfer Your Photos, Videos, Music, Documents and more in a flash, by simply plugging in your Beyond USB into your Smartphone or Computer. Very simple and easy for all to use. Get Yours Today! Visit http://www.BeyondUSB.com to see more details!


Summary: The Samsung Galaxy Note is either a large phone or a small tablet, but whatever you want to call it I think it is fantastic for the data centric consumer.

Last week I reported that the Samsung Galaxy Note passed 5 million in sales and Samsung later confirmed that this was sales to consumers and not just shipments out from their factory. I briefly saw the Note at CES, but was now very intrigued to get more time with one so Samsung sent an eval unit to me the next day. After just three days I was so impressed that I ordered my own Galaxy Note on Saturday.

I didn’t put this review on my Smartphones & Cell Phones blog because I consider this device more of a data-centric tablet than a phone. Then again, AT&T sells it with a phone contract and people are using it as their phone. If I considered it a phone then it would have been in at least my top five of 10 best smartphones to kick off 2012. However, I don’t plan to use the phone functionality much and see it taking the place of my 7 inch Android tablets so am considering it a small tablet. People have started using the term “Phablet” for this device as it is a phone-tablet hybrid. You can check out a few photos of the Samsung Galaxy Note, screenshots of the device, and pictures taken with it in my image gallery.
Image Gallery: Check out photos and screenshots of the Samsung Galaxy Note and a couple sample photos I took with it. Image Gallery: Galaxy Note retail package Image Gallery: Galaxy Note and the S Pen
In the box and first impressions

The Galaxy Note comes in a typical AT&T package and the box really doesn’t seem that big. When you open the lid you will see the Galaxy Note taking up nearly the entire length and width of the box. AT&T and Samsung include a Quick Start Guide, the Note, a USB cable, and USB charger/adapter. The eval unit is the Carbon Blue one with a back that is nearly black with very subtle dark blue color to it. Samsung sent along a brown Note Flip Case and that is what I have been using since I pulled the Galaxy Note out of the box.

The Galaxy Note is definitely a big phone, but after turning it on and seeing the display I soon forgot about the size. The HD Super AMOLED display is gorgeous and for those who use their devices for email, browsing, media, games, and more the size is desirable and beneficial. Samsung makes some excellent hardware and the Galaxy Note reminds me a bit of their latest Tab devices.

Specifications

Specifications for the Samsung Galaxy Note include the following:

5.3 inch HD Super AMOLED display at 1280 x 800 pixels resolution with Corning Gorilla Glass
1.5GHz dual core processor
Android 2.3.6 Gingerbread
GSM Quad-band: 850/900/1800/1900MHz
UMTS; Tri-band: 850/1900/2100MHz. Supports up to 21 Mbps HSPA+
LTE; Dual Band: Band 4 & Band 17
16GB internal memory, microSD card expansion capability
1GB RAM
8 megapixel camera with LED flash and 1080p video recording capability
2 megapixel front facing camera
Bluetooth 3.0, WiFi, GPS, barometer, and compass
TV out via MHL adapter
2500mAh battery with stated 10 hour talk time
Dimensions: 5.78 x 3.27 x 0.38 inches and 6.28 ounces

I understand that NFC is in the device, but that AT&T has not enabled the functionality. I enjoy using Google Wallet with NFC on my Galaxy Nexus to buy things and also use NFC to scan my Orca transit card to see how much I have left on the card. I hope AT&T eventually enables this, maybe with the ICS update, but think that developers will probably enable this if it doesn’t get the update officially.

I was very pleased to see that Samsung put a good camera in the Galaxy Note since they dropped the ball with the Galaxy Nexus, especially after the Galaxy S II already had a great camera. I also love that there is a microSD card slot for up to 32GB more memory capability as I plan to load this up with lots of content.
Walk around the hardware

The defining feature of the Samsung Galaxy Note is obviously the large 5.3 inch display that dominates the front. You will also find a good quality 2 megapixel front facing camera above the display and four Android capacitive buttons below the display (Menu, Home, Back, and Search).

The volume button is on the left side, the power button is on the right side, the microUSB port is on the bottom, and the 3.5mm headset jack is on the top.

The 8 megapixel camera and LED flash are found on the upper back of the Note with the mono speaker and S Pen silo on the bottom left of the back. The speaker blows away the crappy quiet one on my GSM Galaxy Nexus and is good enough to even allow me to listen to podcasts in my car. The back cover is similar to the Galaxy Nexus and made of rather flimsy plastic material where many snaps are required to place it on the back. Under the cover you will find the SIM card slot, microSD slot, and 2500 mAh battery.

The edges are rounded and the device is quite thin at 0.38 inches. While it is wider than just about every other smartphone out there, if you use it more as a tablet replacement you may find it is just about perfect for portability and usefulness.

The Galaxy Note supports LTE on AT&T, but unfortunately LTE is not yet available where I live and work. Thus, I see the 4G indicator that means I am connected to AT&T’s HSPA+ network. I am regularly seeing download speeds in the range of 5.6 to 8.4 Mbps, which is plenty fast for most activities. I look forward to seeing LTE roll out soon though.
Walk around the software

The Galaxy Note currently has Android 2.3.6 Gingerbread loaded on it, but an update to Ice Cream Sandwich (known as the Premium Suite update) is promised to take place in the 2nd quarter. I hope that AT&T doesn’t hold this back too much since I am really looking forward to the advanced S Pen functions that are being added. Gingerbread works well though and it is still a great device with this version of Android.

Unfortunately, AT&T went a bit crazy (don’t they always) and loaded up a bunch of bloatware on the Galaxy Note. However, I quickly found out that you are allowed to uninstall these apps so it is really only a minor inconvenience and there does look to be a couple of useful utilities, such as AT&T Code Scanner. You will find most of these apps on one home screen and they include AT&T Messages, AT&T Code Scanner, AT&T U-verse Live TV (be careful here, you only get 7 days free and then it is $9.99/month), AT&T FamilyMap (again, this is a $9.99/month service), myAT&T, AT&T Navigator (once again, this is $9.99/month, but there is a free limited version available), AT&T Ready2Go, mSpot Movies (I prefer Google Movies), and YPmobile.

Samsung includes utilities and apps such as AllShare, Crayon Physics game (S Pen optimized), Kies Air, Samsung Media Hub, Mini Diary, Polaris Office, Qik Lite, Social Hub, Task Manager, Voice Talk, and Voice Recorder. Kies Air is a pretty slick utility that lets you manage your device and transfer media via a web browser on your computer when you have your Note connected to the same WiFi network. Voice Talk is a service provided by Vlingo and is an excellent service that enables you to use your voice to perform tasks such as voice dial, send a text message, navigate, create a memo, play music, update your social network, open an app, record your voice, and more.

For those readers who are considering the Galaxy Note for work, you will be pleased to hear it is SAFE (Samsung Approved for Enterprise). This means that the device includes support for Mobile Device Management (MDM), on-device encryption (ODE), Exchange ActiveSync for corporate email/calendar/contacts (EAS) and Virtual Private Networks (VPN). It also comes with Polaris Office so you can view, edit, and create Office and Google documents on the go.

Samsung Galaxy S II , From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Samsung Galaxy S II (GT-I9100) is a smartphone running under the Android operating system that was announced by Samsung on February 13, 2011 at the Mobile World Congress. It is the successor to the Samsung Galaxy S, with a different appearance and significantly improved hardware.[6] The phone is also the predecessor of the yet-to-be unveiled Samsung Galaxy S III.[7] The Galaxy S II was one of the slimmest smartphones of the time, mostly 8.49 mm thick, except for two small bulges which take the maximum thickness of the phone to 9.91 mm.[8] The Galaxy S II has a 1.2 GHz dual-core "Exynos" system on a chip (SoC) processor,[9] 1 GB of RAM, a 10.8 cm (4.3 in) WVGA Super AMOLED Plus screen display and an 8 megapixel camera with flash and full 1080p high definition video recording. It is one of the first devices to offer a Mobile High-definition Link (MHL),[10] which allows up to 1080p uncompressed video output to an MHL enabled TV or to an MHL to HDMI adapter, while charging the device at the same time. USB On-The-Go (USB OTG) is supported.[11][12]

The user-replaceable battery on the Galaxy S II gives up to ten hours of heavy usage, or two days of lighter usage.[13] According to Samsung, the Galaxy S II is capable of providing 9 hours of talk time on 3G and 18.3 hours on 2G.[13][14]
Contents
[hide]

1 Launch and availability
1.1 Asia/Pacific
1.2 North America
1.3 South America
1.4 Africa
1.5 Europe
2 Hardware
2.1 Processor
2.2 Memory
2.3 Display
2.4 Audio
2.5 Camera
2.6 Connectivity
2.7 Accessories (optional)
3 Software
3.1 Android operating system
3.2 User interface
3.3 Bundled applications
3.4 Media support
3.5 Community support
4 Reception
5 Variants
5.1 Galaxy S II GT-I9100G
5.2 Galaxy R (GT-I9103)
5.3 Galaxy W (Galaxy S II Mini)
5.4 Galaxy S II LTE and Galaxy S II HD LTE
5.5 U.S. variants
5.5.1 Sprint's Galaxy S II Epic 4G Touch (SPH-D710)
5.5.2 T-Mobile's Galaxy S II (SGH-T989)
5.5.3 AT&T's Galaxy S II (SGH-I777)
5.5.4 AT&T's Galaxy S II: Skyrocket (SGH-I727)
5.5.5 AT&T's Samsung Captivate Glide (SGH-I927)
5.5.6 U.S. Cellular's Samsung Galaxy S II (SCH-R760)
5.6 Japanese model (NTT DoCoMo)
5.7 South Korean variants
5.7.1 SK Telecom's Galaxy S II (SHW-M250S)
5.7.2 KT's Galaxy S II (SHW-M250K)
5.7.3 LG U+'s Galaxy S II (SHW-M250L)
5.8 Canadian variants
5.8.1 Rogers' Galaxy S II LTE (SGH-i727R)
5.8.2 Bell's Galaxy S II (GT-I9100M)
5.8.3 Telus' 4G Galaxy S II X (SGH-T989D)
6 Successor
7 See also
8 References
9 External links

[edit] Launch and availability

The Galaxy S II was given worldwide release dates starting from May 2011, by more than 140 vendors in some 120 countries.[15]

On May 9, 2011, Samsung announced that they had received pre-orders for 3 million Galaxy S II units globally.[16]

In some time after the device's release, Samsung also released a Nvidia Tegra 2 powered Samsung Galaxy R (or 'Galaxy Z' in Sweden) variant version. The release of the Galaxy R 'GT-I9103' corroborated with early pre-release reports of an Nvidia powered Galaxy S II smartphone.[17][18] Eldar Murtazin, of Mobile-Review.com, hinted that Samsung might have faced delays in meeting worldwide shipment of both its Exynos chip and Super AMOLED Plus screens. He noted that nobody expected the "huge success" and "sky high" demand for the previous Samsung Galaxy S.[19]

Different regions around the world have received this device to market beginning from the earliest of April 2011.


Transfer Your Photos, Videos, Music, Documents and more in a flash, by simply plugging in your Beyond USB into your Smartphone or Computer. Very simple and easy for all to use. Get Yours Today! Visit http://www.BeyondUSB.com to learn more!

Comparison of Samsung Galaxy S2 and Samsung Galaxy R specs are located below .

Samsung-Galaxy-S-II

Transfer Your Photos, Videos, Music, Documents and more in a flash, by simply plugging in your Beyond USB into your Smartphone or Computer. Very simple and easy for all to use. Get Yours Today! Visit http://www.BeyondUSB.com for more details!!

Samsung-Galaxy-R
Phone Model Samsung-Galaxy-S-II Samsung-Galaxy-R
Prices
Price (RM) 1899 - 1979 -
AP Price (RM) 1630 - 1710 1435 - 1515
General
Date Announced February 13, 2011 (1st Quarter) July 30, 2011 (3th Quarter)
Status Current Model New Model
Network Technology GSM 850/900/1800/1900 GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
HSDPA 900 / 2100
Processor/ Memory
CPU 1.2GHz ARMv7 dual-core Application Processor Dual core, 1 GHz Tegra 2 Cortex-A9,
RAM - -
Internal Storage 16GB/32GB, 1GB RAM 1 GB RAM, 2GB ROM, 8GB storage
External Memory microSD, (up to 32GB), 8 GB included MicroSD, up to 32GB
GPU - -
Chipset - -
Body
Dimensions (mm) 125.3 x 66.1 x 8.49 125.3 x 66.1 x 9.45
Weight (g) 116 135
Available colours Black, White And Pink -
QWERTY Keypad No No
Display
Screen Size & Resolution 4.3 inch, WVGA 480 x 800, Multi-touch input method 4.0 inch, 480 x 800, Touchscreen, Multi-touch, Scratch resistant surface
Screen Color Super AMOLED Plus, 16M Super Clear LCD 16M colors
Design Candybar Blok
Screen Protection - -
Multi Touch No No
Software
Platform / OS Android 2.3 Android OS, v2.3 (Gingerbread)
Java (J2ME) - -
Messaging SMS, MMS, Email SMS, MMS, Email, IM
Others Software Google Search, Maps, Gmail, YouTube, Calendar, Google Talk, Picasa integration, Social Hub / Readers Hub / Music Hub / Game Hub A-GPS, Document viewers, Facebook, Picasa, Twitter
Sound
Alert - -
3.5mm Jack No No
Extra Feature P3, OGG, AAC, AAC+, eAAC+, AMR-NB AMR-WB, WMA, WAV, MID, AC3, IMY, FLAC, XMF MP3, AAC, AAC+, eAAC+, WAV
3.5mm stereo headset jack;
Battery
Battery Type/ Capacity Li-ion 1650mAh Li-Ion 1650 mAh
Stand-by Up to 710 h (2G) / Up to 610 h (3G) 620
TalkTime Up to 1100 min (2G) / Up to 520 min (3G) 540
Entertainment
FM Radio No No
TV Receiver No No
Entertainment Others - -
Connectivity
HSDPA Yes, HSPA+ 21Mbps, HSUPA 5.76Mbps Yes
WLAN Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n Yes, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n
EDGE Class 12 Yes
GPRS Class 12 Yes
WiFi Hotspot No No
GPS Yes Yes
NFC Support No No
Bluetooth No No
USB Port Yes Yes
Camera Specifications
Type/Capacity 8 Megapixel 5 Megapixel
Max. Resolution 3264 x 2448 3264 x 2448 (Secondary Front Camera)
Flash No No
Video Recording - -
Secondary Camera No No
Extra Features - Auto focus, Smile detection, Panorama
Compare With Other Cellphones
Compare VS Compare VS

Samsung Galaxy Tab™ 7.0" Reviews

Transfer Your Photos, Videos, Music, Documents and more in a flash, by simply plugging in your Beyond USB into your Smartphone or Computer. Very simple and easy for all to use. Get Yours Today! Visit http://www.BeyondUSB.com for more info.

Product Features

Is Your Laptop Nervous? It Should Be
The Samsung Galaxy Tab™ brings you the media you want and keeps you connected with anyone, anytime. Compact and light, you can keep in touch with people and content through 3G connectivity, Wi-Fi® 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth® Wireless Technology 3.0. With a battery life of up to seven hours* and a crisp TFT-LCD display, you’re free to communicate, update, and enjoy.
Your Favorite Movies Are Always Showing
Samsung's new Media Hub app brings your favorite entertainment to the Galaxy Tab. The app is pre-loaded for instant access to a broad selection of movies and TV shows that start playing while they download when you rent or purchase them.
See more>>

Be a Bookworm and the Office Hero
Bury yourself in all of your favorite books, magazines and newspapers with just a touch of the screen with the pre-loaded Amazon Kindle™ e-Reader. Access all of your important documents as well as create new ones via ThinkFree Office™, which is compatible with Microsoft® Office applications like Word, Excel® and PowerPoint®. Experience the ultimate full HTML internet viewing experience with Adobe® Flash® for watching videos and animations on the incredible 7" LCD display.
Cameras Coming and Going
The Tab makes creating and sharing images and video fast and portable with its two cameras. The rear-facing 3-megapixel camera with flash captures images and video that can be edited and shared. With its front-facing camera, you can easily stay in touch and video-chat for either business or pleasure. Users can align the Galaxy Tab with video chat clients including Qik and Fring (downloaded from Android Market™) and seamlessly talk with other people over a Wi-Fi connection.

MWC: Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 hands on review

MWC: Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 hands on review
Samsung keeps the heat on Apple
By Khidr Suleman in Barcelona
Wed Feb 29 2012, 16:50

WITH KOREAN HARDWARE GIANT Samsung adding more tablets to its expanding portfolio, The INQUIRER managed to get its hands on the 7in Galaxy Tab 2 running Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.

The Galaxy Tab 2 retains most of the design and traits that made the original Galaxy Tab popular with enterprise users and consumers. However, in terms of looks, the Galazy Tab 2 isn't the sexiest and slimmest in the Galaxy Tab range and we prefer the original 7.7in Galaxy Tab.

Samsung hasn't gone over-the-top with the specifications on the Galazy Tab 2 either, in a deliberate attempt to keep the price of the device as low as possible to try to entice first time tablet buyers.

The main area where Samsung has made cost savings is the 7in display, shipping the Galaxy Tab 2 with 1024x600 resolution. This is not as good as the original Galaxy Tab's Super AMOLED screen with 1,280x800 resolution.

However, under the hood Samsung has not skimped on components. The Galaxy Tab 2 is powered by a 1GHz dual-core processor, has 1GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage. There is a microSD slot that allow users to boost storage by another 32GB, which is always handy.

We found the performance of the Galaxy Tab 2 to be smooth, although not as quick as that of the quad-core powered Transformer Prime.

Samsung has also pre-loaded Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich onto the tablet so it is capable of offering the most up-to-date software experience of any tablet, which is important, as Apple gears up to unveil the Ipad 3.

The 3G device also retains the ability to make calls so you can use it as a smartphone if you wish, although using a Bluetooth headset is probably best though, to avoid getting strange looks.

HSPA+ network connectivity of up to 21Mbit/s, plus 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are also supported, but no LTE model is planned. µ

Source: The Inquirer (http://s.tt/15VCO)

Transfer Your Photos, Videos, Music, Documents and more in a flash, by simply plugging in your Beyond USB into your Smartphone or Computer. Very simple and easy for all to use. Get Yours Today! Visit http://www.BeyondUSB.com for details!

Samsung Galaxy S2 vs. iPhone 4S: Worthy winner is?

Add Mark Chubb (Phones Review CEO) to your Circles on Google+
Samsung Galaxy S2 vs. iPhone 4S: Worthy winner is?

Under: Apple iPhone, Samsung by phonesreview.co.uk
Date: November 16th, 2011

Transfer Your Photos, Videos, Music, Documents and more in a flash, by simply plugging in your Beyond USB into your Smartphone or Computer. Very simple and easy for all to use. Get Yours Today Visit http://www.BeyondUSB.com for more Information.

For several months the Samsung Galaxy S2 has been known as the best smartphone leading most of the lists of top smartphones. Many other manufacturers tried to create devices able to compete with it, but none succeeded – even Apples iPhone 4, according to most geeks I know, yielded to it in many aspects. Perhaps Samsung thought its Galaxy S2 was unreachable, but not so long ago Apple released the new iPhone 4S with a number of updated specs and features… and we all understood that the Galaxy S2’s position is now shaken.

So which phone is cooler – the Samsung Galaxy S2 or the Apple iPhone 4S? Which has better features? Which is worthy of your money? I’ll try to find this out in my comparison of these two smartphones.

Design
I think we all understand that design is a matter of taste. Some like huge, heavy and rugged devices; others prefer light and tiny ones. So in this case we can’t say which phone is better – the Samsung Galaxy S2 or the new iPhone 4S – we can only note the obvious: you can’t say the Samsung Galaxy S2 is a tiny phone (it has a 4.3-inch display, after all), but it’s slim (only 8.49mm – much less than all the phones I can think of) and light – it’s plastic body together with the battery weighs only 116g. The iPhone 4S, on the other hand, isn’t much different from its predecessor in term of size and design (same cases can go for both); it’s smaller than the Galaxy S2, since its display is smaller (3.5 inches), but it’s not as thin as it.

Display
There was a time when many people believed that the Samsung Galaxy S2 had the best screen ever, but now its 4.3-inch Super AMOLED Plus touchscreen with 800 x 480 resolution doesn’t sound that cool any longer… The resolution of the iPhone 4S’s screen is higher – 960 x 640. Of course, it doesn’t mean the Galaxy S2 is outdated now or not that good any more – its screen is very bright, all the colors are eye-popping and very beautiful, and they don’t darkle or fade when you look at the screen at an angle. It’s great for watching movies and even for playing HD games (there are plenty of them in Android Market).

However, the display of the iPhone 4S due to its higher resolution is even brighter and isn’t afraid of sunlight, too (though it actually fades a bit under direct sunlight). The only bad thing is – old icons and apps look grainy on such a clear display, so unless the developers update them and adjust for high-res screens, you won’t enjoy using them on the iPhone 4S… at all.

So… here the winner is the iPhone 4S with its super screen, though I personally like the display of the Samsung Galaxy S2, too.

Processor
The Samsung Galaxy S2 boasts a 1.2GHz dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 processor that provides really fast performance without any delay. Web browsing is very quick even via Wi-Fi networks, and you won’t face any problem with loading and playing even the most “heavy” games on Samsung’s flagship.

The iPhone 4S has a 1GHz dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 processor, which is also very fast (much faster than the single-core processor of the original iPhone 4 at least), but, though it provides great graphical acceleration, it yields to the CPU of the Galaxy S2 in terms of performance, so here the winner is Samsung’s smartphone.

Camera
The Samsung Galaxy S2 has a cool 8MP camera with auto-focus and LED flash that takes 3264 x 2448 photos and 1080p videos at 30fps. If you remember, the original iPhone 4S had a 5MP sensor, and many geeks thought it was a big shortcoming, even though the number of megapixels doesn’t really matter. Anyway, now those geeks have received what they wanted – the new iPhone 4S has an 8MP camera able to take 3264 x 2448 pictures just like the Galaxy S2 and many other modern smartphones. Plus it has a CMOS illuminated sensor, which is 73 percent more effective and about 30 percent faster than before. And of course, it shoots 1080p HD videos, too.

However, the secondary 2MP camera of the Samsung Galaxy S2 is better than the VGA camera of the new iPhone 4S. But anyway, secondary cameras don’t play a big role here, and as for the rear-facing ones, they’re both equally good, so we have a draw here.

Platform
Just like in case of design, I don’t think it’s a good idea to compare two operating systems, especially if they’re both good – each in its own way. Android the Samsung Galaxy S2 runs is the most popular platform at the moment, famous for being easy to customize and for having a huge number of apps in Android Market, too. However, the Gingerbread it runs isn’t the newest version of Google’s OS any longer, since the Ice Cream Sandwich update is already on its way, so we can’t say the Galaxy S2 runs the best software ever.

On the other hand, Apple’s iOS is really easy to use (even if the iPhone is your first smartphone ever, you won’t face any problem dealing with it – the user interface of iOS is intuitively understandable for everybody), but of course it’s not what makes the new iPhone 4S special. You’ve probably already heard about Siri – the special program designed to help the user give commands to the phone, ask questions and even send text messages. Siri is new, smart and funny, too (it came out that the developers had hidden many interesting Easter eggs, funny jokes and witty responses to strange questions in it), and I guess many people will buy the iPhone 4S especially for Siri.

Since you can’t surprise anyone with Android now, especially with its Gingerbread version, so in this case I think the prize should go to the iPhone 4S and its Siri.

Price
The unlocked version of the Samsung Galaxy S2 costs £397.99 on Amazon, while the 16GB iPhone 4S is more expensive – £593.15. However, we shouldn’t forget that the Galaxy S2 was released several months ago, and the 4S is only about a month old, so it will most likely be discounted after a while. Anyway, you can find much better deals at RightMobilePhone offering both smartphones for free with contracts, so perhaps it’s better to choose one of them instead of paying much more for a SIM-free device.

Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy S2 and the Apple iPhone 4S are both very good smartphones, no doubt, and both have their stronger and weaker sides. The Galaxy S2 is a bit faster thanks to its processor, while the iPhone 4S has a better display and Siri that has caught so much attention.

I think the Galaxy S2 has been the best smartphone for too long, and now a new device should come to replace it. Apple’s latest “child” can be this new device, so… the iPhone 4S is my choice.

The comparison article above has been written by a guest author, thank you.

Samsung Galaxy Note: The Most Controversial Phone On The Planet [REVIEW]

Samsung Galaxy Note: The Most Controversial Phone On The Planet [REVIEW]

Transfer Your Photos, Videos, Music, Documents and more in a flash, by simply plugging in your Beyond USB into your Smartphone, tablet or Computer. Very simple and easy for all to use. Get Yours Today! www.BeyondUSB.com


samsung galaxy note on bench

Steve Kovach, Business Insider



Steve Kovach is editor of SAI: Tools at Business Insider. He writes reviews and advice for gadgets, apps, and consumer tech.
Recent Posts

Now The Nook Tablet Costs The Same As The Kindle Fire
7 Popular iPhone Apps That Snoop Into Your Address Book
What's It Really Like To Work At Foxconn? We're Going To Find Out...

Think back to one year ago.

Screen size was one of the only ways Android phones could set themselves apart from the iPhone. Early last year, all those phones with four-inch screens seemed like a godsend to people who liked to consume a bunch of content on their device.

A lot can change in a year.

With the Galaxy Note, a massive smartphone with a 5.3-inch screen, Samsung is betting you'll want a device that offers all the big-screen advantages of a tablet, plus all the communications features you're used to in a smartphone.

Oh yeah, The Galaxy Note also comes with a stylus, that relic of the pre-iPhone PDA era, which can be used on the phone's touchscreen for doodling and jotting down notes.
Click here for photos of the Galaxy Note >
Is It Too Big?

I've been using the Galaxy Note for a week. During that time I showed it to a bunch of colleagues and friends and their reaction is almost always the same: "Wait, that's a phone?"

And it's not said with the amazement and wonder a revolutionary device would elicit. Instead, it's said with shock and disbelief. Who in their right mind would want to carry around a phone that can barely fit in your hand?

I tend to agree.

The Galaxy Note is almost six inches long and just more than three inches wide. For comparison, the iPhone is 4.5 inches long and 2.3 inches wide. It's uncomfortable to hold with one hand. It's even more uncomfortable to talk on. When you make a phone call on the Galaxy Note, it covers the entire side of your face. It looks like an oversized Pop-Tart.

samsung galaxy note

Steve Kovach, Business Insider

Granted, smartphone users don't make as many calls as they used to. It's all texts and tweets and emails. But as a communications device, the Galaxy Note is too big for you to comfortably navigate its touchscreen. Unless you have Shaq-sized hands, there's no way you'll be able to swipe from the top to bottom of the device. It's a stretch to reach that handy drop-down notifications menu.

Typing is isn't too bad though. The wider touchscreen keyboard makes it easier to prevent typos and autocorrect fails.

So yes, for most people, the Galaxy Note will be too big.

Like, practical-joke big.
Blast From The Past

When I met with Samsung's reps to get a guided tour of the Galaxy Note, they told me Samsung's vision with the device was to replace your pen and paper. Why carry around a smartphone, a tablet, and a notepad?

That's the supposed problem the Galaxy Note's stylus is supposed to solve.

But it's not a problem. Today's touchscreen keyboards are incredibly accurate. With excellent note-taking apps like Evernote, you can dash off a note and sync it the cloud in no time. Even the standard note apps that ship with smartphones are more than good enough to do the trick. With the stylus, Samsung is trying to fix something that isn't broken.

And it probably wouldn't be that big of a deal if the stylus was as accurate as the old-school pen and paper method.

But it isn't.

When writing or doodling with the stylus, there's a very noticeable delay between when the tip touches the screen and when your marking appears. Yes, it's a lot more accurate than the credit card pads you sign your name on when paying at the supermarket. But the stylus still doesn't have that perfect, natural feeling of a pen and paper.

One way Samsung counters that problem is with a feature that converts your handwriting to plain text so you can copy it to an email or text message. But in my tests, it almost never worked properly. Pointless.

samsung galaxy note

Steve Kovach, Business Insider

The handwriting recognition stinks.

I found myself getting frustrated taking notes with the stylus. In the end, I just switched to the touchscreen keyboard. It's just easier and a lot more accurate.

Luckily, Samsung doesn't force you to use the stylus. The Galaxy Note is just a super-sized version of your typical touchscreen smartphone. You can do everything with your fingers.
Other Than That, It's Just A Really, Really Big Android Phone

At its core, the Galaxy Note is exactly like any of Samsung's other Android smartphones, just with a much larger screen. It's still running an old version of Android called Gingerbread, which is optimized for phones, not tablets. Luckily, Samsung says an update is coming soon that will add the latest tablet version of Android called Ice Cream Sandwich to the Note.

Like all Android phones, the app selection isn't as good as what you'll find on Apple's devices. Developers still prefer to make their stuff for Apple first. When they do bring their apps to Android, they tend to be less polished than their Apple counterparts.

As far as the basics go, the Galaxy Note's battery will easily last you a day or more, despite its power-hungry (and brilliant) screen. Even at such a large size, the screen's resolution is crystal clear, making videos and games look incredible. The Note also makes a decent point and shoot camera, but the shutter lag is unbearably slow. Overall, if the Galaxy Note's size doesn't bother you, you're going to get an amazing Android phone.

samsung galaxy note

Steve Kovach, Business Insider

As part of Samsung's partnership with AT&T, the Galaxy Note's exclusive carrier at the moment, the phone is completely bogged down with crapware. When you first turn on the Galaxy Note, your screen will be filled with useless AT&T-branded apps. Even worse, you're constantly prompted to sign up for AT&T's smartphone services.

You know how Windows PCs come loaded with annoying promotional anti-virus software and other useless add-ons? The Galaxy Note is just like that.

Even worse, you can't delete most of AT&T's apps without hacking your phone.

AT&T isn't all bad though. The Galaxy Note runs on the carrier's new 4G LTE service, which is remarkably fast. I conducted a series of speed tests in New York City and got download speeds that will rival what you're used to on your cable modem at home. At times, it was much, much faster than that.

Unfortunately, AT&T currently has 4G LTE in just 28 cities, so there's a pretty good chance you won't get to try it until it expands to new markets this year.
Should You Buy It?

It'd be impossible for me to recommend the Galaxy Note to the Average Joe looking for a smartphone. It's not going to work out for most people. Don't just run out and buy it. You have to hold this thing to see if you're comfortable with it. Even if you do like it, the price, $300 with a two-year contract, is a bit hard to swallow.

If you're OK with a giant phone, then go for it. You won't be disappointed. But if you're just looking for a great Android phone, Samsung's Galaxy S II offers the same performance in a more reasonable form factor.

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/samsung-galaxy-note-review-2012-2#ixzz1n2LFZy8V

Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 review

Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 review

Transfer Your Photos, Videos, Music, Documents and more in a flash, by simply plugging in your Beyond USB into your Smartphone, Tablet or Computer. Very simple and easy for all to use. Get Yours Today! Visit http://www.BeyondUSB.com for Details!

By Tim Stevens posted Nov 10th 2011 12:00PM

What is the optimal size for a modern-day tablet? Is it 10 inches? Is it seven? Or, is it something smaller, like the economy-sized smartphone that is the Galaxy Note? We can’t say for sure, but we surely can say that Samsung is as much in the dark as we are. Like a gadgety Goldilocks traipsing between an endless sea of options, that company seems completely unable to make up its mind, splitting niches into sub-niches and then cleaving those in twain again with a seemingly endless array of fractionally different tablets.

Today we’re looking at the Galaxy Tab 8.9. This powerful slate exists because, apparently, the Galaxy Tab 10.1 is too big and the Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus is too small. Is the $449 8.9 just right, then? Read on to find out.
Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 review
Hardware

If you’re familiar with the Gal Tab 10.1 you’ll find the slightly svelter 8.9 a particularly comfortable beast. Where many companies are struggling to find a corporate image and common style to apply to all their devices, Samsung here had no problem simply shrinking down the elder tablet’s overall design by about 12 percent. It’s only when they’re side-by-side that you can see a few subtle differences — most notable being the repositioning of the speakers from the sides to the bottom where they now flank Samsung’s proprietary connector.

The 8.9 uses a plastic backing with a faux brushed metal texture. It matches what’s currently applied to the 10.1′s rear end and definitely has a nicer feel than the smooth plastic we got on some of the earlier 10-inchers. It’s given a dark, bluish hue Samsung calls Metallic Gray, though we’re not seeing much in the way metal flake. With that as your only color choice your only options for customization lie on the capacity front: 16 or 32GB, neither of which can be expanded through microSD.

Dimensionally the 8.9 is only slightly smaller than its big brother. It measures 9.1 x 6.2 x .34 inches and weighs in at .99 pounds (230.9 x 157.8 x 8.6mm and 447g, if those are your units of choice). That compares to 10.1 x 6.9 x 0.34 inches and 1.24 pounds, making it only moderately more svelte and a hair less heavy. (Our calipers measured it as being thinner, too, but only by a few fractions of a millimeter.) This compares favorably to another 8-inch option, the Archos 80 G9, which is 3mm thicker and 18g heftier.
Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 vs. Galaxy Tab 10.1 and iPad 2



That difference between this and the 10.1 doesn’t sound like much on paper, and if you stack them up it doesn’t look like much either. But, in the hand, you notice it. It just feels slightly more balanced, slightly more palmable than the bigger one. It isn’t as nice to walk around with as a 7-inch tablet — still our favorite size for tableting while strolling between gates at the airport — but it is a noticeable improvement in the hand compared to the 10.1.

Though smaller, the 8.9 still packs 1,280 x 800 pixels in its 16:9 PLS TFT LCD, so you’re giving up size but gaining pixel density. You are, however, gaining both compared to the 8-inch Archos 80 G9, which makes do with just 1,024 x 768. The three megapixel camera around the back and two megapixel unit up front appear to be the same as the one that came before, while the power button and volume rocker are positioned in their familiar locations — the upper-left.

That 8.9-inch display impresses, not with the stunning contrast of Samsung’s Super AMOLED Plus displays but still managing to look quite good. As mentioned above the pixel density is slightly higher than on the 10.1, which does give text and other high-contrast shapes a slightly smoother appearance. Viewing angles are good and, overall, this is definitely a top-notch panel in here. Still, we have to wonder why Samsung stuck this with a TFT screen while reserving its especially stunning Super AMOLED Plus display for that mythical no-show, the Galaxy Tab 7.7.
Performance and battery life

The 8.9 features the same 1GHz dual-core processor and 1GB of RAM as its 10.1 inch predecessor, so no surprise, then, that performance here is similar to what we saw on the 10.1 — though not necessarily identical. Quadrant gave us an average of 2,341, which is surprisingly higher than the 1,800 or so the 10.1 puts down. Linpack Single 26.846, though Linpack Multi wouldn’t give us consistent enough scores to warrant inclusion, and Neocore also refused to cooperate. Nenamark netted 38.1, Nenamark2 18.1 and Sunspider clocked in at 2,295, just a tick slower than the 10.1′s 2,200. It boots from cold in 35 seconds.

Real-world impressions back up the benchmark findings. The 8.9 feels exactly the same to use as the 10.1. In back-to-back testing of the two occasionally the 10.1 would load an app slightly more quickly, sometimes the 8.9, but neither had a conclusive advantage over the other. Unless you had them both sitting side-by-side you’d never tell any difference, and even when we did we had to be really paying attention.

When it comes to longevity the 8.9 does not disappoint — though it doesn’t quite live up to its predecessor. The 10.1 (with a 7,000mAh battery) scored a very impressive 9:55 on our intensive video rundown test, almost matching the 10:26 of the iPad 2. The 8.9, with its 6,100mAh battery, managed 9:21. That’s well more than the seven hours managed by the Archos, and plenty enough for all but the most punishing of flights.
Tablet

Battery Life
Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 9:21
Apple iPad 2 10:26
Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 9:55
Apple iPad 9:33
HP TouchPad 8:33
Lenovo IdeaPad K1 8:20
Motorola Xoom 8:20
T-Mobile G-Slate 8:18
Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet 8:00
Archos 101 7:20
Archos 80 G9 7:06
RIM BlackBerry PlayBook 7:01
Acer Iconia Tab A500 6:55
Toshiba Thrive 6:25
Samsung Galaxy Tab 6:09
Velocity Micro Cruz T408 5:10
Acer Iconia Tab A100 4:54
Camera

Not to sound like a broken record, but the camera assemblies here appear to be identical to what we saw on the 10.1 — that is to say, it takes acceptable shots, but you won’t be retiring your DSLR. Nor your compact, for that matter. See for yourself in the pics below.
Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 sample shots
Software

The Galaxy Tab 8.9 runs Honeycomb 3.1, featuring the same TouchWiz customizations found on the bigger 10.1. We already detailed them quite comprehensively before, so we won’t waste too much time doing so here again. But, we will say that the additions to the OS here are generally welcome, and the easy to access utilities for taking notes and calendar make this a rather more useful machine than it might be otherwise.

Beyond that, the Honeycomb build here has the same quirks as any other build of Google’s OS. It’s still something of a mixed bag of an OS that we find occasionally clunky and unintuitive to navigate, but again that hasn’t changed significantly since before — and it won’t change until these devices are updated to Ice Cream Sandwich. When will that happen? Samsung isn’t saying.
Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 software
The competition

There aren’t a huge number of contenders in this, the greater-than-seven-but-smaller-than-nine-inch department. Currently it’s really this or the Archos 80 G9, which has a .9-inch smaller screen, a lower resolution, worse battery life and a chunkier construction. But, it is considerably cheaper ($300 for 8GB, $320 for 16GB) and seems to offer slightly improved performance. The strongest competition, though, comes in at 1.9-inches smaller — in the form of the $430 T-Mobile Springboard (which offers shorter battery life but a nicer display), the $400 Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus, or the compellingly cheap Kindle Fire and Nook Tablet. We’ll have full reviews of those last two soon but, at just $200, Amazon’s offering is going to be tough to beat.
Wrap-up

The Galaxy Tab 8.9 exists in a gadget niche so small we weren’t convinced it needed to exist. Despite that, the thing fills it admirably well. Given the choice between taking along this guy or its bigger sibling we’d almost universally take the 8.9. The loss in screen size is barely noticeable since the resolution is kept the same but the difference in handheld usability is tangible.

That said, those of you buying a tablet exclusively for couch surfing would likely be a bit more comfortable with the slightly larger display. Whichever you choose, cost won’t be much of a factor. The 16GB version here is $449 and 32GB $549. Each is just $50 less than its 10.1-inch counterpart. Is a 10 percent price reduction fair for a 10 percent size reduction? Ultimately that decision lies with you.

AT&T sends a letter to the FCC that confirms they’re interested in working with Dish

By: Stefan Constantinescu, IntoMobile
Tuesday, January 31st, 2012 at 3:38 AM

Dish Network, the budget satellite television company, sits on 40 MHz worth of spectrum in the 2 GHz band. They’ve already stated that they want to build an LTE-Advanced network using that spectrum, and now they’re just waiting to get the thumbs up from the FCC to go ahead and start building. Now we all know that AT&T failed to acquire T-Mobile. That made a lot of consumers happy since fewer operators almost always translates to higher prices. Still, that doesn’t change AT&T’s problem, which is their hunger for spectrum that they claim they need to expand their network. Most of us in the wireless industry believe that either AT&T will buy Dish Network to feed said hunger or Dish Network will buy T-Mobile and give the struggling operator a real 4G strategy. Last week (January 26th) AT&T sent the FCC a seven page letter basically saying that Dish Network should be given permission to build their network, that they should have to follow the same rules that all wireless operators follow, and that no restrictions should be placed on the “transfer and/or leasing” of Dish’s spectrum. To us that sounds like AT&T wants to cut Dish Network a big fat check and just take their spectrum, why else would they tell the FCC to give Dish Network the green light to start building their network?
In a perfect world the FCC would tell AT&T to stop being a whiney douche, give Dish Network the go ahead, and Deutsche Telekom would give Dish Network the right to use their brand so that they don’t have to invest millions in marketing. That of course is a fantasy, but regardless, expect something major to happen to Dish Network during the next 12 months. They stand to make a lot of money when their spectrum gets the FCC’s stamp of approval.

Visit http://www.BeyondUSB.com for the Latest in technology for Transferring Your Photos, Videos, Music, Documents and more in a flash, by simply plugging in your Beyond USB into your Smartphone or Computer. Very simple and easy for all to use. Get Yours Today!

Apple and Android Gain Smartphone Marketshare at Expense of RIM and Microsoft

Thursday December 29, 2011 2:46 pm PST by Arnold Kim

comScore released their latest numbers for the relative market shares of the mobile market. Apple continues to inch upward with 11.2% of total U.S. Mobile Subscribers.

This percent share is up from 9.8% in August and 10.2% in September. Apple's growth was greater than its competitors during this time which covers the introduction of the iPhone 4S. Apple has historically trended well with steady gains in this measure over time. These numbers are for both smartphone and non-smartphone subscribers in the U.S.


Amongst Smartphone platforms, Google's Android continues to lead at 46.9 % over Apple's 28.7% but both platforms grew in the past few months as compared to both Microsoft and RIM.


Microsoft, RIM and Symbian saw continued declines in Smartphone marketshare over the past quarter. The difference in change between Apple and Android's growth is even smaller (1.3 points vs 2.1 points) when comparing the November numbers to September numbers. The iPhone 4S's launch in October should have been covered in these figures.

comScore's data tracks installed user base rather than new handset sales, making it more reflective of real-world usage but slower to respond to shifting market trends than some other studies. 

 

Visit http://www.BeyondUSB.com to learn more about Transferring Your Photos, Videos, Music, Documents and more in a flash, by simply plugging in your Beyond USB into your Smartphone or Computer. Very simple and easy for all to use. Get Yours Today!

JCB launches Defy+ mobile phone with Motorola

Digger manufacturer JCB has launched its own limited edition of Motorola’s popular Defy+ mobile phone.

JCB's limited edition Motorola Defy+ mobile phone 

By Matt Warman, Consumer Technology Editor

11:45AM GMT 17 Jan 2012

The new device will sell for £279 and upgrades the existing Motorola Defy+, which manufacturers already market as ‘Lifeproof’.

The Defy+ is certified to an ‘Ingress Protection Rating’ of 67, which means it is sealed against dust and resistant to water to a depth of one metre. The JCB version adds walki-talkie features as well as an app that includes six tools including a spirit level, torch and decibel reader and a special protective sleeve.

The Defy+ also includes scratch-resistant Corning Gorilla Glass as standard, and runs the Gingerbread version of Android on a 1GHz processor, with a 5-megapixel camera and 2GB of storage.

The JCB phone is not the first to try to expand the market for robust phones. Previous models have also included versions made by Sonim, whose ‘unbreakable’ handset was embarrassingly damaged on the BBC’s ‘Click’ programme by reporter Dan Simmons. Bob Plaschke, Sonim's CEO, had told the BBC: "You can drop it from at least 10 storeys, you can go under water 20ft for a half hour... you can hammer a nail with it. It is basically unbreakable." Simmons subsequently broke the screen on a fish tank.

Victoria McManus, UK marketing director, Motorola Mobility claimed that “The unique protective sleeve will pull on JCB’s years of expertise in the construction industry to help us reach a new audience who we know are in need of a life and work proof handset."

Visit http://www.BeyondUSB.com for information on how to Transfer Your Photos, Videos, Music, Documents and more in a flash, by simply plugging in your Beyond USB into your Smartphone or Computer. Very simple and easy for all to use. Get Yours Today!

2012 Best Cell Phone Provider Comparisons and Reviews

Cell Phone Providers Review by toptenreviews.com

Cell Phone Providers: Keeping in Touch

Cell phones keep you connected, always, to best friends and the latest news. Cell phone providers vary as much as your cell phones, offering everything from unlimited minutes to video calls to internet access plans.

Why Cell Phones?

2012 Best Cell Phone Provider Comparisons and Reviews

TopTenREVIEWS  |  Web Services  |  Home / Lifestyles  |  Cell Phone Providers Review

Rank	#1	#2	#3	#4	#5	#6	#7	#8	#9	#10
Excellent    Very Good    Good    Fair    Poor	Verizon Wireless	AT&T	Sprint	T-Mobile	Boost Mobile	Cricket	Virgin Mobile	U.S. Cellular	MetroPCS	TracFone
Reviewer
Overall Rating
Ratings
Plans
Phones & Features
Additional Benefits
Fees
Help & Support
View Specifications	Go!	Go!	Go!	Go!	Go!	Go!	Go!	Go!	Go!	Go!
View Screenshots
Type of Carrier
Contract-based
Prepaid
Plans
Individual Plans
International Plans
Family Plans
Data Plans
Business Plans
Pre-Paid Plans
Unlimited Voice & Text	$89.99	$89.99		$69.99		$40.00	$45.00***	$89.94
Unlimited Voice	$69.99	$69.99		$59.99		$30.00	$35.00***	$69.99
Unlimited Everything			$99.99	$99.99	$50.00	$60.00	$55.00	$114.89	$40.00
Phones & Features
Free Phones Available
Free Mobile-to-Mobile Minutes
Free Nights and Weekend Minutes					**
Free Domestic Long Distance
Walkie-Talkie (PTT)
Refurbished Phones
Night Start Time	9:00 PM	9:00 PM	7:00 PM	9:00 PM				9:00 PM
Rollover Minutes
Additional Benefits
Voice Mail
Caller ID
Call Waiting
Call Forwarding
3-Way Calling
Conference Calling
Roadside Assistance
No Credit Checks
Fees
Roaming Charges						$.25		$.69	$.19
Activation Fee	$35.00	$36.00	$36.00	$35.00		$15.00		$30.00
Contract Length	2 Years	2 Years	2 Years	2 Years				2 Years
Early Termination Fee	$175.00*	$150.00	$200.00	$200.00				$150.00
Days to Return Phone & Cancel Service	30	30	30	30				30
Help/Support
Live Chat
Phone Support
Email
FAQs
Reviewer Comments

*Verizon Wireless charges a $175.00 Early Termination Fees for most phones. However, for phones that it refers to as Advanced Devices, which generally refers to smarthphones, the ETF is $350.00. **With select plans.***These plans include unlimited web, data, messaging and email service. The $35/month plan provides 300 anytime talk minutes while the $45/month plan provides 1200 anytime talk minutes.

Get $75 of Advertising

Promote Your Business On Google. Claim Your $75 Coupon Now!

www.Google.com/AdWords

Best Cell Phone Plans

Find The Best Cell Phone Plans Now. Get The Real Answers You Need!

smartask.com

Best Phone Plans

Compare The Top Phone Plans WIth Unlimited Calling And More!

unhookedwireless.com

Ads by Google

Why Cell Phones?

Let's face it: cell phones are just about a necessity in today's busy world. Whether you use your cell phone to ask your spouse what to get at the grocery store or to conduct international business, these handy devices have become an integral part of mainstream society.
While there's no doubt that cell phones are useful, figuring out the best service provider and plan can be a nightmare. Cell phone providers compete for your business using jargon, and it's sometimes difficult to compare rates. They offer different phones and services, so figuring out which will best suit your needs can be a hassle, especially since most providers want you to sign a one- or two-year contract, which often eliminates the ability to test out the service.
In this site, we cut through the jargon and give you simple-to-understand reviews of top cell phone providers like Verizon Wireless, AT&T and Sprint. You'll also find articles like "Need-To-Know Mobile Acronyms" about choosing a cell phone and how to deal with authorized resellers and recent new stories to help you make an informed decision on which cell phone provider is right for you. You can also get some of the latest cell phone tech information by reading our article “What Does 4G Mean to Me?”
At TopTenREVIEWS We Do the Research So You Don't Have To.™

Cell Phone Providers: What to Look For

You need a cell phone provider who offers the widest selection of features and avoids hidden charges and costs. Excellent customer service is also necessary.
Even though each cell phone provider offers many different plans—ranging in price and plan availability—we‘ve made a point of highlighting the various unlimited voice, messaging and data plans that have become prominent recently. In addition to these, most cell phone providers offer more restrictive plans for those who don’t need quite so much, and premium features that only add a few dollars to your monthly bill.
Below are the criteria that TopTenREVIEWS used to evaluate cell phone providers.

Plans
Cell phone providers package features such as the number of voice minutes available, text messaging and data access in ways that they hope will be appealing to customers. Their goal is to create feature combinations that will maximize revenue. As consumers, the critical measure is that the plan meets individual needs without paying for features that won’t be used. Our reviews will help you sort out which plan is best for you.

Phones & Features
The variety of cell phones available from carriers is expanding at an ever-increasing rate. Most of the talk these days centers around smartphones and other advanced devices that take advantage the mobile internet. Carriers love to promote these phones because data plans are more profitable than voice alone. Even today’s most basic cell phones offer standard features that would have made them cutting-edge products a very short time ago.

Additional Benefits
Providers offer a lot more than just convenient ways to make phone calls. Some carriers are particularly good about providing apps that help make the most of your device, while others may offer particularly attractive streaming entertainment options. The key is finding the one that offers the features that you want, need and can afford.

Fees
Everybody hates hidden fees and cell phone bills are notorious for being more than expected. Among the most potentially dangerous fees are those for roaming. Activation or early termination fees may also be charged. Almost inevitably, though there are a couple of exceptions, there are governmental taxes, fees and pass-throughs to be paid. We’ll help you make sense of it all.

Help & Support
Cell phone providers should offer extensive support, including phone support, an online FAQs page, live chat and an email contact address. We’re very critical of companies that fall short in this area.

Whether your needs are purely personal or business-related, the right phone and plan from the right service provider will make a world of difference, so you can stay in touch!

Visit http://www.BeyondUSB.com for the Latest Smartphone to Computer USB Technology.

Transfer Your Photos, Videos, Music, Documents and more in a flash, by simply plugging in your Beyond USB into your Smartphone or Computer. Very simple and easy for all to use. Get Yours Today!