samsung galaxy beam

Smartphones with unusual features (roundup)

These days, almost every smartphone contains the same bag of tricks, with little to differentiate handsets, apart from the hardware and maybe some software extras.

Sure, one might have a better camera, more external or internal storage, and other specs that help us tell one phone from another. But on the whole, you can access e-mail, text messages, and social networks from them all, share photos and videos, surf the Internet, and install any number of apps.

This kind of uniformity is actually good news, since it means that even midrange smartphones can be just as capable as high-end products, even if they have a smaller screen or shorter battery life, for instance. Of course, there are some smartphones that stand out from the crowd for a certain physical or software feature. In no particular order, here's the current crop of unique handsets that have me looking twice.… Read more

Episode 7: 3D printing and a new fusion phone

I have to put our Always On supervising producer, Eileen Rivera, on front street a little bit this week: that woman hates the Samsung Galaxy Beam. More accurately, she hates the cheeseball YouTube videos that promote the Beam's signature feature: its built-in pico projector. And I agree ... those ads are bad. Like, bad, bad.

But after spending some time playing with the Beam, I have to confess, I was kind of taken with its little parlor trick! I can't imagine using it often, unless it was for work, but it would certainly thrill the grandparents as a better … Read more

Low Latency No. 12: Beam me up, Samsung

A mobile phone with a built-in projector? That's crazy! Or is it? When we initially heard about the Samsung Galaxy Beam, we had visions of people crowding around someone who's projecting the last minute of a sports game on a street corner. Of course, our minds quickly devolved into how the Galaxy Beam could be used to cause havoc in the classroom. … Read more

Android Atlas Weekly 87: Updates from Mobile World Congress (Podcast)

Andy Rubin dishes on Android tablets, we examine a bowl of jelly beans, and we discuss the exciting new devices coming out of Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.

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ANDROID NEWS:

-Android chief: We must ‘double down’ on tablets, win the market

-Google VP Dishes On Android Tablet and App Strategy

-Android crosses 850,000 activations per day with 450,000 apps in the store, Andy Rubin says

-Andy Rubin speaks out on Google, Motorola acquisition; wants nothing to do with MotoRead more

The 404 1,001: Where we're covered with scorpions (podcast)

Loaded's Bridget Carey sits down with us for a roundup of breaking news from the Mobile World Congress, a smartphone expo based out of Barcelona that started this weekend.

The announcements range from Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) handsets with simpler nomenclature and integrated quad-core processors with new features like built-in projectors and a Nokia PureView smartphone with an insane 41-megapixel camera.… Read more

Mobile World Congress kicks off

Links from Monday's episode of Loaded:

HTC's One X, S and V Sony Xperia P & U Samsung Galaxy Beam Isis adds mobile payment partners Skype on Windows Phone 7 Subscribe:  iTunes (MP3)iTunes (320x180)iTunes (HD)RSS (MP3)RSS (320x180)RSS HD

Samsung gets Android first with Galaxy Beam

Samsung has been very busy lately pumping out a steady flow of Android handsets. Indeed, almost every time I open my RSS readers, I'm learning about another upcoming Galaxy model.

Tuesday was no exception as I read that the i8520 Galaxy Beam will head to Singapore next month. Formerly known as the "Halo," the Galaxy Beam will be the first Android handset to feature a pico-projector. Created by Texas Instruments, the projector has 6 lumens and can project images anywhere from 5 to 50 inches.

Aside from the projector, the Beam boasts impressive hardware. Powered by Android … Read more