Hasta La Gadget!

Nothing like a little software update to get the weekend started right… right? Just days after Samsung shipped the first consumer units of its Galaxy Tab 10.1 (you can find our review here), the Android 3.1 update that first struck Motorola’s Xoom is now gracing the Limited Edition models that were handed out at Google I/O 2011. We’ve confirmed here at Engadget HQ that the update is indeed percolating, with Americans needing to simply register with Samsung (select “UK” in the options list, it’s cool) and proceed to the Software Update within the Settings pane. If you’ve applied the update, let us know how things went in comments below; if you ran into any issues, give those More Coverage links a look. Either way: lucky!

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 Limited Edition gets Android 3.1 update, that much cooler originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 10 Jun 2011 17:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung debuted its version of the Chromebook in May. Photo: Michael Calore/Wired.com

Google announced on Thursday that its web-only laptop, the Chromebook, is now available for pre-order in the United States via Best Buy or Amazon websites.

Google’s Chromebook hardware is currently offered by two manufacturers — Samsung and Acer — with two different product designs. Both manufacturers are offering Wi-Fi only and 3G versions of the device.

“Nothing but the web,” Google Chrome’s Twitter account wrote Thursday evening, linking followers to the sale page. Chromebook pre-orders ship on June 15.

As a web-only device, the Chromebook fits in perfectly with Google’s vision of a cloud-based future. Essentially, the Chromebook takes the netbook and strips it of the components found in most laptop computers. There’s no visible operating system outside of Google’s Chrome browser (hence the name), which means the interface is entirely web-based. There’s also no significant local storage (though it does have a removable SD card slot), which means everything you’re using on the device must be stored and accessed remotely from online servers.

Of course, Google’s cloud-based vision has you covered there. Want access to your photos? Upload them to Picasa, Google’s photo storage site. Hankering for music? Google Music (now in beta) stores all your music on the internet, streaming songs to the device. The same goes for documents (Google Docs), calendars (Google Calendar) and most other things you could think to use on your netbook.

Acer’s cutely titled “Cromia” comes with an 11.6-inch HD display, 6-hour battery life, and weighs just under 3 pounds. The Wi-Fi only version costs $380, and the Verizon-carried 3G version comes priced at $450.

Samsung’s model comes with a bump up in features, as well as a boost in price. The display is larger by about an inch, and it’s a little heavier at 3.1 pounds. But Samsung says its Chromebook gets an added 2.5 more hours of battery life than Acer’s slightly cheaper model. Samsung’s model will start at $430 for Wi-Fi, and $500 for a 3G version.

Google first debuted the Chromebook at the company’s developer-centric event in May, Google I/O.

Everyone ’round here knows that Samsung has a lusty 10.1- and premature 7-inch version of its Galaxy Tab tablet. But we’ve heard nary a peep from Samsung about that $469 8.9-incher announced alongside its bigger, just-as-thin sibling back in March. We might know why. According to Korean news site Etnews, Samsung is having trouble getting it to market due to low yields of the 8.9’s G1F touch-panel which uses one less film layer than conventional GFF (glass fiber filter) panels. This G1F architecture is behind Samsung’s Super Clear LCD which you’ll find on Sammy’s own Galaxy Player, (Russian) Nexus S, and Wave II handsets. Etnews claims that Samsung will offset the G1F shortfall with GFF-type touch panels that are 30 – 40 percent thicker and dimmer, thanks to the extra layer. If true then we have one question: which regions will get the chunkier Galaxy Tab 8.9 when if finally does launch this summer?

Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 8.9 troubled by screen issues, chubbier version the result? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 10 Jun 2011 07:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Back in February, it looked like Vodafone UK was more than happy to get its hands on the original Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1v, but with the impending UK release of a younger, slimmer model, the carrier is giving the 10.1v the boot. According to some helpful tipsters, customers who showed early interest in the thicker version of the tablet have received an “important update” from Vodafone saying, “We’ve decided to add the slimmer Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 to our range, which will now take the place of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1v.” The landing page for the original 10.1 has also been removed from Vodafone’s website. Looks like it’s a sad day for our friends across the pond who like their tabs with a little extra cushion, not to mention an 8 megapixel camera.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Vodafone UK bids adieu to Galaxy Tab 10.1v, likes its slates skinny originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Jun 2011 16:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Released this week in Hong Kong, Samsung's new Galaxy S II may be available soon worldwide. Photo courtesy of Samsung

Samsung this week released an upgrade for its most popular “Galaxy” smartphone in Hong Kong, following its launch in Europe.

The Wall Street Journal this week reported on the release of the Samsung’s Galaxy S II smartphone in Hong Kong. Samsung released the handset in Europe in early May.

It’s unclear when we’ll see the smartphone in the United States. A Verizon Wireless spokeswoman misspoke when she told Computerworld that the Galaxy S II would be available some time in July. The carrier retroactively amended the statement, saying that the spokeswoman was actually referring to the Galaxy Tab 10.1.

However, considering that Samsung just gave a handful of developers free Galaxy S II phones, and the smartphone is already releasing in other parts of the world, it’s safe to assume the U.S. release isn’t very far off.

As the successor to Samsung’s highly successful Galaxy S device, the S II has big shoes to fill. Samsung sold over 10 million of the original Galaxy S phones, carried by all four of the big U.S. carriers.

The Galaxy S II is a major update to its now-dated younger brother. It’ll have all the accoutrements customary to recent smartphone debuts — front-and back-facing cameras, 1080p video with HD output capability, and up to 32 GB SD card support.

And of course, it’s touting a beefy 1.2-GHz dual-core processor, Samsung’s first phone to do so. It’s a timely arrival, too. Competitors LG, HTC and Motorola all already have dual-core smartphones available for purchase.

As the veracity of the release is still up in the air, we’ve got no price details. It’ll most likely be available somewhere in the $200-$300 dollar range with a two-year contract on Verizon’s network.