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MetroPCS TV service debuts on Samsung Galaxy S Lightray 4G

MetroPCS is bringing antennas back in a quasi-retro design that also delivers live TV to your Android phone.

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Samsung Galaxy S Lightray 4G, MetroPCS
The new Dyle Mobile TV service debuts on Samsung's 4G LTE Android smartphone. Sarah Tew/CNET

Nobody looking at the long antenna sprouting from MetroPCS' new Samsung Galaxy S Lightray 4G would suggest that Samsung's bringing sexy back, but for TV lovers, the throwback has a purpose.

The prepaid carrier and Samsung teamed up to introduce the Dyle Mobile TV service, which delivers live, local broadcast TV over Metro's 4G LTE network. The service is free once you buy the phone.

Dyle mobile TV debuts on Galaxy S Lightray 4G (pictures)

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Dyle has been in the works for years, and is certainly an interesting. Now how about the Lightray itself?

The Android 2.3 Gingerbread handset is a version of U.S. Cellular's Samsung Galaxy S Aviator, plus that antenna.

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Specs are strong for a prepaid carrier, which often opts for less expensive phones sold at retail prices. The Lightray has a nice 4.3-inch Super AMOLED touch screen, an 8-megapixel camera and front-facing 1.3-megapixel shooter up front, and runs on a 1GHz processor.

Onboard memory is a measly 1.38GB, but the handset generously comes with a 16GB card. The Lightray breaks out with another first for MetroPCS, being the first mobile hot spot.

The Samsung Galaxy S Lightray 4G is on sale starting today for $460.

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