Google, Samsung team up for new PCs
Google has taken the “next step” along the way to convincing us that computers built around its Chrome operating system are worth giving a damn about, launching two new Chrome OS computers with Samsung and penning a little haiku to accompany the news:
Last year we announced
a new kind of computer
This is the next step
Though, equally, the haiku might have read like this:
Here are two PCs
They don’t do a lot of stuff
Does anyone care?
Not many people cared the first time around – I can’t say that I know too many people who own a Chrome OS computer – but who knows what will happen this time? A partnership between Google, the world’s largest advertising company, and Samsung, the world’s largest consumer electronics company, must eventually produce results, right?
Chrome OS (for those of you who didn’t care the first time) is a lightweight operating system designed for people who run most or all of their computing services in the internet cloud. If you use Google Docs instead of Microsoft Word for your word processing, and Gmail, Google Calendar and Google Contacts instead of Microsoft Outlook, you could well be a candidate for one of these two new machines.
One of the new Samsung devices is a “Chromebook” laptop known as the Samsung Series 5 550. It’s said to have a battery that lasts 2.5 times longer than Samsung’s first foray into Chromebooks, the Series 5.
It will go on sale in Best Buy stores in the US, as well as online, for $US449 for the Wi-Fi-only version, and $US549 for a version that incorporates 3G mobile broadband.
Perhaps of more interest is the other new device, known as a Chromebox. It’s what would once have been called a thin-client PC, or maybe an Apple Mac Mini, with an Intel Core processor, 4Gb of RAM, 6 USB ports, ethernet as well as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and a DVI output for attaching it to a monitor. So, not all that thin, at least from a hardware specs perspective. It will sell for $US329.
The Samsung Chromebox: just add a monitor
Source: Google
One of the main criticisms of the previous generations of Chromebooks (to the extent that anyone bothered criticising them at all) was that they weren’t very good at doing stuff when they weren’t attached to the internet.
For cloud-centric machines, they were a little too cloud-centric.
But Google promises it has fixed that issue with the latest version of Chrome OS, which will sport a version of Google Drive (Google’s cloud-based storage system) that supports offline file access, and a version of Google Documents (Google’s answer to Microsoft Office) that allows you to work on documents even when you’re not attached to the internet.
That’s on top of what Google promises are hundreds of “offline-capable web apps” already in the Google app store, a phrase that must be less oxymoronic than it sounds.
Windows 8 so cheap, it’s almost free
Windows 7 users who feel a little short-changed by the shift to Windows 8 in coming months will be able to upgrade for pocket change. Microsoft has set the price for a Windows 8 upgrade, and it’s only $US14.99.
Depending on currency fluctuations between now and the launch of Windows 8 in October*, that could cost you as little a five cups of coffee.
But there’s a catch with that low price: it only applies to people who buy a Windows 7 PC after June 2 this year.
Whether or not you’d really want to upgrade a Windows 7 to Windows 8 is another matter, though.
If you’re buying a Windows 7 machine between now and October* (or indeed between now and next January, which is when the cheap upgrade offer expires), the chances are it won’t have a touch sensitive screen, and given that most of the enhancements to Windows 8 work best with a touch screen, Windows 8 will have limited, no, or possibly even negative appeal to many potential upgraders.
But there are a few things to Windows 8 that might convince a non-touch screen PC owner to shell out those $15. In the Windows 8 Release preview, the company greatly improved the software which drives touchpads, bringing it closer to the rich gesture-based, multi-touch experience that Mac owners have enjoyed for years. Multi-monitor support will be better in Windows 8 than in Windows 7, too: you’ll have more control over the location of the task bar, and will even be able to have a task bar on each monitor, with each one containing icons only for the applications that are displayed on that monitor.
By the time it’s released in October*, Windows 8 should also use less disk space, take up less memory, and use less CPU power than Windows 7, all of which might matter a great deal to someone without a touch screen PC but with, say, a low-voltage Ultrabook which didn’t come with a lot of memory or a lot of hard disk space in the first place. For such people, $US14.99 might seem like a bargain indeed.
(*Microsoft has yet to announce an official launch date for Windows 8, but in his blog the man in charge of Windows, Steven Sinofsky, wrote that Windows 8 would “enter the final phases of the Release To Manufacturing process in about two months”. This would put Windows on course for that much-rumoured October release.)
Samsung Galaxy S III Landing on Five U.S. Carriers in June - PC Advisor
The wait is almost over: The Samsung Galaxy S III will be available from five US carriers beginning later this month. AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon and U.S. Cellular will all get versions of the Galaxy S III. Unlike the global version of the Galaxy S III, the US versions will not have the quad-core Exynos processor. Pricing and availability will be announced by the individual carriers in the coming weeks, but Samsung says that prices will start at $200.
Samsung S3 Controls
The Galaxy S III will be powered by a 1.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 dual-core processor. There were early reports that Samsung's Exynos processor might not be compatible with US LTE networks, but Samsung has yet to state why the US version comes with a different processor.
HTC pulled a similar trick with the One X: The global version of that phone runs on an Nvidia Tegra 3 processor, while the US version uses a dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor--the same as the one found in the U.S. Galaxy S III. In this case, Nvidia's quad-core processor was not yet compatible with AT&T's LTE network at the time of the One X's release. In our benchmarks, however, the U.S. version of the One X did quite well.
The Galaxy S III is 8.6mm thin and sports a 4.8-inch display with a very small bezel. Running Android 4.0, it has new features like a content sharing service, a voice-activated virtual assistant and motion controls. It can also tracks your eyes via the front-facing camera to keep the phone on while you're using it. When you put the phone down, the screen will turn off.
We got our hands on the global version of the phone last month--check out our first impressions to get a feel of Samsung's newest offering. Stay tuned for PCWorld's full rated review of the U.S. Galaxy S III in the next few weeks.
T-Mobile to Debut the Samsung Galaxy S III on June 21 - PR Inside
T-Mobile USA, Inc., the No. 1 mobile operator brand in Samsung Galaxy S sales, and Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile), the No.
1 mobile phone provider in the U.S. and the No. 1 smartphone provider worldwide, 1 announced the upcoming release of the highly anticipated Samsung Galaxy S ® III. Starting June 21, T-Mobile ® customers will have the opportunity to own one of the most innovative smartphones in the market to date, joining the popular Galaxy S family of devices.
The Samsung Galaxy S III is one of T-Mobile’s fastest 4G (HSPA+ 42 technology) smartphones. With an intuitive design, the Galaxy S III enables customers to share photos, videos and more effortlessly to a compatible TV or other Galaxy S III devices. Featuring
a beautiful 4.8-inch HD Super AMOLED ™ screen, the Galaxy S III packs a powerful entertainment experience allowing customers to watch HD movies and TV shows, download apps and securely browse the Web at lightning-fast speeds on America’s Largest 4G Network ® .“We have a tremendous history of working with Samsung to bring cutting-edge devices to market, and we know our customers are excited to get their hands on the Galaxy S III,” said Brad Duea, senior vice president, product management, T-Mobile USA. “As we continue to aggressively compete, this device is yet another example of how T-Mobile delivers amazing devices and 4G experiences to our customers.”
Galaxy S III Key Features
- Connecting and Sharing: Imagine shooting a video with a group of friends and being able to share it immediately with others in the group. The Galaxy S III enables group sharing via Wi-Fi Direct ™ so that content such as a video or photo on one device can easily be shared with up to five other Galaxy S III devices. That same video or photo can also be viewed by the group on a compatible big screen TV, such as a SmartTV, using AllShare ® . With an advanced 8-megapixel camera with LED flash and zero shutter lag and a 1.9-megapixel front-facing camera, the Galaxy S III will capture beautiful HD videos and photos that are perfect to share.
- Entertainment: Whether waiting for an appointment or commuting on the bus, customers can take in the latest action movie in full HD from Samsung Media Hub or catch their favorite TV show with T-Mobile TV in Mobile HD 2 . Images appear crisp and clear on the Galaxy S III’s 4.8-inch HD Super AMOLED screen, bringing entertainment to life on the device. In addition, customers can choose between 16 GB or 32 GB of internal memory, and have the option for expandable memory via a MicroSD slot, providing plenty of storage for downloading movies, music, games and other apps. Featuring Android ™ 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) and a Qualcomm ® Snapdragon ™ S4 Processor with 1.5 GHz Dual-Core CPUs and 2GB of RAM, the Galaxy S III also offers a large, 2100mAh battery to power hours of on-the-go entertainment.
- Productivity: For customers who want to use the device in their business and personal lives, T-Mobile’s Galaxy S III offers a suite of security features delivering enterprise-friendly capabilities. From syncing corporate email, calendars and contacts to providing on-device encryption, the Galaxy S III makes it easy to maximize efficiency and productivity for enterprise users. T-Mobile customers also have access to Wi-Fi Calling and the Smartphone Mobile HotSpot feature ensuring easy and reliable connectivity while on the road.
AvailabilityThe Samsung Galaxy S III is expected to arrive in a metallic blue or ceramic white color at T-Mobile retail stores and select retailers nationwide, and at www.t-mobile.com : cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww .. starting June 21.To learn more about the Samsung Galaxy S III, visit galaxy-s.t-mobile.com/samsung-galaxy-s3 : cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgal .. .
1 Samsung is the No. 1 mobile phone provider in the United States and the No. 1 smartphone provider worldwide claims according to Strategy Analytics, Q1 2012 U.S. Market Share Handset Shipment and Global Smartphone Shipment Reports. 2 Mobile HD TV can deliver a bit rate of 800kbps and 16:9 resolution; the bit rate and resolution you experience will vary based on many factors, e.g., programming, network connection and device.
Samsung, Galaxy, AllShare and Super AMOLED are all trademarks of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Other company names, product names and marks mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners and may be trademarks or registered trademarks.
About T-Mobile USA:Based in Bellevue, Wash., T-Mobile USA, Inc. is the U.S. wireless operation of Deutsche Telekom AG (OTCQX.
DTEGY). By the end of the first quarter of 2012, approximately 129 million mobile customers were served by the mobile communication segments of the Deutsche Telekom group — 33.4 million by T-Mobile USA — all via a common technology platform based on GSM and UMTS and additionally HSPA+ 21/HSPA+ 42. T-Mobile USA’s innovative wireless products and services help empower people to connect to those who matter most. Multiple independent research studies continue to rank T-Mobile USA among the highest in numerous regions throughout the U.S. in wireless customer care and call quality. For more information, please visit www.T-Mobile.com : cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww .. .
T-Mobile is a federally registered trademark of Deutsche Telekom AG. For further information on Deutsche Telekom, please visit www.telekom.de/investor-relations : cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww .. .
About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in semiconductor, telecommunication, digital media and digital convergence technologies with 2010 consolidated sales of US$135.8 billion. Employing approximately 190,500 people in 206 offices across 68 countries, the company operates two separate organizations to coordinate its nine independent business units: Digital Media & Communications, comprising Visual Display, Mobile Communications, Telecommunication Systems, Digital Appliances, IT Solutions, and Digital Imaging; and Device Solutions, consisting of Memory, System LSI and LCD. Recognized for its industry-leading performance across a range of economic, environmental and social criteria, Samsung Electronics was named the world’s most sustainable technology company in the 2011 Dow Jones Sustainability Index. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com : cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww .. .
About Samsung Telecommunications AmericaSamsung Telecommunications America, LLC, (Samsung Mobile) a Dallas-based subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., researches, develops and markets wireless handsets, wireless infrastructure and other telecommunications products throughout North America. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com : cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww .. .
Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release contains forward-looking statements that reflect the current views of Deutsche Telekom management with respect to future events. These forward-looking statements may include statements with regard to the expected development of revenue, earnings, profits from operations, depreciation and amortization, cash flows and personnel-related measures. You should consider them with caution. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and are generally beyond Deutsche Telekom’s control. Among the factors that might influence our ability to achieve our objectives are the progress of our workforce reduction initiative and other cost-saving measures, and the impact of other significant strategic, labor or business initiatives, including acquisitions, dispositions and business combinations, and our network upgrade and expansion initiatives. In addition, stronger than expected competition, technological change, legal proceedings and regulatory developments, among other factors, may have a material adverse effect on our costs and revenue development. Further, the economic downturn in our markets, and changes in interest and currency exchange rates, may also have an impact on our business development and the availability of financing on favorable conditions. Changes to our expectations concerning future cash flows may lead to impairment write downs of assets carried at historical cost, which may materially affect our results at the group and operating segment levels. If these or other risks and uncertainties materialize, or if the assumptions underlying any of these statements prove incorrect, our actual performance may materially differ from the performance expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. We can offer no assurance that our estimates or expectations will be achieved. Without prejudice to existing obligations under capital market law, we do not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements to take new information or future events into account or otherwise.
In addition to figures prepared in accordance with IFRS, Deutsche Telekom also presents non-GAAP financial performance measures, including, among others, EBITDA, EBITDA margin, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA margin, adjusted EBIT, adjusted net income, free cash flow, gross debt and net debt. These non-GAAP measures should be considered in addition to, but not as a substitute for, the information prepared in accordance with IFRS. Non-GAAP financial performance measures are not subject to IFRS or any other generally accepted accounting principles. Other companies may define these terms in different ways.
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Media Contacts:Robin HandalyT-Mobile USA Media
Relations(425) 383-4002 MediaRelations@T-Mobile.com : mailto:MediaRelations@T-Mobile.com
Sprint, T-Mobile Launching the Samsung Galaxy S III on June 21 - Brighthand
Sprint and T-Mobile just revealed that they will be launching the highly-anticipated Samsung Galaxy S III on June 21. This high-end smartphone is eventually coming to all of the top U.S. carriers, and is expected by many to be the best-selling Android model of the year.
When released, the T-Mobile version of the Galaxy S III will use the carrier's HSPA +42 network. The carrier has yet to announce its pricing for the device, but it is expected that the handset will start at $200 with contract.
Samsung released a statement early this morning saying that the Galaxy S III will be available from the five major wireless carriers in the country: T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon, AT&T, and U.S. Cellular. Pricing and release dates for AT&T and Verizon's versions have not yet been made public.
Samsung Galaxy S III Overview
This Samsung handset features a 4.8-inch, 1280 x 720 (720p), Super AMOLED touchscreen. It runs Android OS 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich), and the U.S. versions will have a 1.5 GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor and 2GB of RAM.
Rounding out the list of features is a 2100mAh swappable battery, an 8 megapixel main camera and a 1.9MP camera on its front.
Be sure to check out our hands-on preview for our first impressions of the Samsung Galaxy S III.
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