Hasta La Gadget!

If surprise was the focus of the event, we’d say the Samsung Android-powered, Verizon-exclusive (and, alas, Bing-driven) Continuum reveal was a comedy of errors — but who cares now that we’ve got our hands on the Galaxy S phone, secondary ticker and all (at 480 x 96 resolution). The Android buttons themselves, as it turns out, are on the display as well — basically, it’s one huge display. The grip sensor that activates the display seems to work well, although it’s pretty easy to squeeze the camera button by accident since it’s also on the lower right of the phone. Unfortunately, there’s no way for third-party apps to update the ticker — it’s limited to Samsung’s stuff right now. We’re trying to get some battery life info — we’re curious if turning on a smaller screen more often will result in a longer shelf life, or if it’ll just be about even.

Update: Video after the break!

Update 2: Okay, we got some more info on that screen. The entire front of the phone is one huge four-inch screen, with the Android buttons more or less painted over the lower third — the screen lights up underneath them in white to illuminate them. Samsung says it’s just easier for marketing purposes to say it’s two screens, but that they’re selectively turning on the bottom portion of the display for the ticker. As far as battery life, it’s a 1500mah battery that’ll last about a day, we’re told — the lower screen turns on whenever a notification comes in, but since it’s a smaller screen the battery life is on par with the Fascinate.

We also learned the “grip sensor” isn’t really grip-based at all — it’s capacitive, so just lightly touching both sides of the phone lights up the ticker. It’s pretty nice, although super easy to set it off by just holding the phone. Samsung says there will eventually be an API for third-party apps to use the ticker, but right now they’re just focused on their core experiences. As for Bing, well, no one’s saying why some Verizon phones get Binged out and some don’t, but every indication is that Verizon calls those shots, not Samsung. We’re also told that an Android 2.2 update will eventually arrive, but there’s no timeline yet — and there’s a real chance this’ll launch with 2.1 after 2.3 hits. Developing…

Update 3: Added a quick macro pic of the buttons after the break — you can see how it’s just one big screen. We also took some side-by-sides with a Captivate — the Continuum is thicker and narrower. Samsung says the narrower size is designed to appeal to women, who generally have smaller hands.

Continue reading Samsung Continuum first hands-on (update: video!)

Samsung Continuum first hands-on (update: video!) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 08 Nov 2010 18:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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There is a slim possibility that come tomorrow evening, Samsung won’t reveal the dual-display Continuum smartphone. But honestly, the company may not have to, as all the pertinent details have already leaked out. However, if you harbor any lingering curiosity about how that 1.8-inch secondary “ticker” display might work, you can find out right now — the full user manual is inexplicably available on Verizon’s website ahead of a formal announcement, along with the standard size comparison and 360-degree views. Find them at our source links immediately below.

Samsung throws up hands, posts Continuum user manual on Verizon website originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 08 Nov 2010 01:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Verizon has just announced that its lovely HTC Droid Incredible will be getting a fresh software update pushed over-the-air starting next week, and among the “software enhancements” will be the automatic installation of the carrier’s V CAST Apps app store. Since this doesn’t mean the Android Market is going away, we suppose it’s not the end of the world — and Verizon is quick to note that V CAST Apps supports carrier billing — but the benefit of having two app stores on a phone is still anyone’s guess. Here’s Verizon’s full statement:

“Verizon Wireless will begin pushing a software update to the DROID Incredible next week. The update includes software enhancements that will pre-install V CAST Apps on the phone. We said earlier this year that we’d be expanding V CAST Apps to the Android platform, and the DROID Incredible is the first Android phone with the store. Developers continue to submit apps, and as a reminder, V CAST Apps allows carrier billing, so customers who purchase applications through our store will see those charges on their monthly bill. For more information about the update customers can go to www.verizonwireless.com/droidincrediblesupport.”

Droid Incredible getting V CAST Apps next week, whether you like it or not originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Nov 2010 12:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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What would we ever do without informative tipsters, eh? Android Central has received an internal Verizon document identifying Motorola’s Droid Pro as an iconic device and setting out details for its upcoming launch. November 9 is the date pinpointed for the commencement of pre-sales, which seem to be different from pre-orders insofar as they’ll actually ship out to buyers starting November 10, meaning quite a few will have their portrait QWERTY handset in their pocket before the proper November 18 release date. Bear in mind that this is still unofficial information for now, though given that Moto itself promised the Droid Pro for the first week of November, it’d be weird if this wasn’t the schedule for the handset’s release. Speaking of weird… “iconic device,” seriously Verizon?

Motorola Droid Pro tipped for November 9 pre-sales through Verizon, November 18 launch originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Nov 2010 07:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Yeah, kind of a good news / bad news type of situation here: the user’s manual for the rumored Android-based LG enV Pro for Verizon has leaked, showing off the latest incarnation of the long-running QWERTY clamshell line in all its dual-screen glory. That’s the good news. The bad news, though, is that Android and Me is reporting that it’s apparently been pulled from the launch roadmap for failing to wow the folks testing it. At a glance, we can’t say we’d blame them — it certainly doesn’t look like anything special, but then again, canceling a device at the last second is probably a small-scale contractual and financial nightmare for Verizon and LG alike… and we’re guessing it’s a situation they’d both like to avoid. Could it be sent back to the shop for retooling, or is it toast? And more importantly, does the Android-buying public care?

[Thanks, Aaron]

LG enV Pro pictured, canceled for failure to ‘impress’ testers? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 02 Nov 2010 17:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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