Maybe it's just me, but it seems like Samsung is getting even faster with open source file releases. Today, the Korean manufacturer dropped open source kernel files for the Galaxy Note 8.0, Samsung's first foray into the tablet-that's-also-a-phone market. Both international and North American variants are represented, so those interested can take their pick.
As smartphones get larger, more vibrant displays, faster CPUs, 4G LTE network connectivity, and more features, there is one area where they still always fall short: battery life. In fact, most modern smartphones lack the ability to last a full day of regular, moderate usage without requiring some additional juice.
Samsung knows that we're all sick of doing the battery-charge-shuffle, so it's vowing to keep us away from the outlet for a full day of moderate to heavy usage with its 2012 phones, according to VP of product innovation Kevin Packingham. On one hand, this probably means slightly thicker devices with larger batteries (like the Motorola RAZR MAXX, which has a 3300mAh battery), but Sammy will also be optimizing the way the phones work, as well.
While Samsung may have promptly released the kernel source code for Sprint's Epic 4G Touch on release day, it has gone one step further with AT&T's variant and already uploaded the code to its Open Source Release Center. AT&T just announced the launch date of October 2nd this morning, so this makes the code available nearly two weeks before the phone.
Hit the link below to download.
Update: On further reflection, we're going to tentatively call this image a "rumor" for now, as we have no way to confirm its authenticity, but we have no reason to think these images are fake, either.
Finally, visual proof that unicorns do exist! Someone, somewhere, has leaked a shot of the upcoming Galaxy S II US market handsets headed for three of America's big four carriers (ATT, T-Mo, Sprint). Without further ado, here they are:
Where the image is from, we're not sure (pocketnow provided no details), but it could very well be a slide from Samsung's upcoming press conference to announce the arrival of the first US-friendly Galaxy S II phones.
File this under "super awesome developer things" - today Samsung launched its brand-spanking-new developer portal for Android, along with an awesome new service: Lab.dev RTL (Remote Testing Lab).
Basically, it gives you, the developer, access to any of Samsung's line of Android devices for remote testing of applications and other such developer-y things via your web browser and the Java plugin. Basic members of the developer portal receive 10 "credits" of testing time per day - or 150 minutes. Premium members get up to 100 times that much, but that program remains "invite only" for the time being.
You can, presumably, buy additional credits - should you so desire.
Samsung has just announced via press release its plans to officially update its Galaxy S line of phones (yep, including North American ones) to Gingerbread starting this week, with the UK and Scandinavian countries first on the list to get the Ginger-bump. Samsung has again remained characteristically ambiguous about exactly which Galaxy S devices will be eligible (and when) for the update directly from Kies, Samsung's device management software.
It's entirely unclear if "North American" Galaxy S phones include the heavily carrier-customized versions of the device in the United States (Captivate, Fascinate, Vibrant, Epic), or merely unbranded Canadian versions of the phone and European imports that have snuck their way onto US shores.
Pocketnow, via a wireless accessories website, has apparently discovered the names of 3 of the carrier-branded versions of the Galaxy S II that will be coming stateside later this year. The device will be known as the Attain on AT&T, the Function on Verizon Wireless, and the Within on Sprint.
Mysteriously absent is a T-Mobile version, suggesting either that the device won't be coming to America's pinkest carrier, or that it will be arriving in a different (QWERTY?) form-factor which does not fit the case being advertised on the source webpage. Either that, or they just don't know the name of it, yet.
Well, we all saw it coming. After giving away phones the past two years (HTC Magic G2 in 2009, HTC Nexus One/Motorola Droid and HTC EVO 4G in 2010), Google I/O attendees will be leaving with shiny new Limited-Edition Samsung Galaxy Tabs. Here's our little (big) guy:
The Tab 10.1 will be available to the masses on June 8, but I/O attendees will be receiving it first. The Tab 10.1 of course will be running Honeycomb (and will be getting the upgrade to 3.1 in a few weeks), have a 10.1'' screen, 1Ghz dual-core processor, and sport 32GB of onboard memory.
Today, the crew over at TMoNews scored some shots and a few details of a new Samsung device, unofficially dubbed the "Exhibit 4G". As to not waste any time, let's get straight into the specs (keep in mind this is all unconfirmed):
- 3.7-inch AMOLED display
- 1.4GHz ARM11 processor
- 5MP Camera with 720p video capture
- VGA front camera
- Android 2.3.3 (Gingerbread)
That's pretty much all of the details that we have for now, but here are a few shots of the device:
Like I said, this is about as unconfirmed as it gets, so take it for what it's worth.



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