Samsung's Vibrant sees its Froyo update, but sadly not OTA

Samsung has followed through on the promise uttered by T-Mobile CMO Cole Brodman on Thursday. The company has just issued an emailed press release that states the T-Mobile Vibrant Froyo update is now available. What, all it took was a legal threat?

Sadly, although as expected, the update will not come OTA, but instead requires an end user to connect his Vibrant to his PC and use Samsung's Kies Mini software. To be honest, it feels very retro (and not in a good way), and really, this sort of update has always been more daunting for end users.

Also, while Apple continues to use tethered updates, at least the software they use to install the update isn't custom. Instead, it's just plain old iTunes. We have to admit, it seems really old-school in these days of OTA updates for just about every other recent Android phone.

Once the update is completed, your Vibrant will be on build number T959UVKA6 also known as KA6. The full set of instructions are here.

At least Samsung delivered for the Vibrant; now how about the Captivate, Epic 4G, Mesmerize and Fascinate?

T-Mobile announces Galaxy S 4G; Sidekick also to return in 4G form

At a press breakfast event on Thursday, T-Mobile USA CEO Philipp Humm confirmed the Sidekick would be returning to the carrier, in 4G HSPA+ form. Also confirmed to be coming was another HSPA+ device already leaked all over the Web and previously called T-Mobile Vibrant 4G Plus: the Samsung Galaxy S 4G.

To be clear, the new Galaxy S device won't be called the Vibrant, Vibrant Plus, or anything similar. The company sent out a press release Thursday saying the rather boring Galaxy S 4G name will be official, and the device will be exclusive to T-Mobile.  It also noted that the device would be arriving in "the coming weeks" while at the press breakfast they stated that both devices would arrive in 1H2011.

Humm said:

"We will launch as new the Samsung Galaxy S 4G ... and coming soon, will also be a Sidekick 4G. Everybody knows the Sidekick, and we're going to relaunch the Sidekick and bring it as a 4G device, Android based, into the market."

The new devices will be Android-powered. Those who are confused and remember that Microsoft's Danger division were the ones behind the original Sidekick, or Danger Hiptop, need not be concerned. Although the new Sidekick will be Android-powered, T-Mobile, not Microsoft, owns the name, so that explains how it is possible the device will carry Android.

After Microsoft acquired Danger, the brand suffered a major setback when an outage which resulted in unavailability of much of the data for U.S. T-Mobile Sidekick users. It was the end of November before the majority of existing users recovered all their contact, notes, calendar and photo data. T-Mobile discontinued the Sidekick in mid-2010.

T-Mobile was also questioned about a possible T-Mobile iPhone, now that AT&T no longer has exclusivity on the iPhone. The company response was "Ask Apple."

Although T-Mobile and AT&T both use GSM as the technology behind their networks, the 3G frequencies used by the companies differ, and Apple would need to make some adjustments for the iPhone to work on the T-Mobile network. That said, the adjustments necessary would be far less than what Apple already had to do for the Verizon, or CDMA iPhone.

Samsung promises Froyo status soon; claims not charging carriers for Android updates

Samsung Galaxy S owners in the U.S. remain stuck on Android 2.1, and have waited so long for Android 2.2 (Froyo) that many theories have sprung up, including the latest, which is that Samsung is charging carriers for Froyo updates. That one must have struck a nerve with Samsung, as it has reportedly reached out to quash it.

Phonescoop says that Samsung Mobile emailed it, with the following missive:

"No. Samsung is not charging carriers for Froyo updates to Galaxy S. We hope to have more detail on status shortly. Promise!"

Many other phones have received Froyo updates, so it is unclear why there is a holdup on Samsung's. So far, rumors have flown about fried internal storage with the update, Samsung holding it back (specifically on the Vibrant) because of the upcoming Vibrant 4G Plus, and more. There has even been some saber-rattling at XDA about possible class-action lawsuits.

A public update on the matter would be a great idea, Samsung. Issuing a press release with public details on Froyo, or perhaps even Gingerbread, on the Captivate, Fascinate, Vibrant, Epic 4G, and Mesmerize in the U.S. markets would probably reduce the upset.

Samsung responds to Vibrant 'Froyogate' accusations

Samsung has responded to recent accusations that it is artificially blocking the Froyo update to its Vibrant Galaxy S variant so as not to affect sales of its upcoming Vibrant 4G Plus, but not in a way that clears up anything.

When asked by C|Net about the issue, Samsung replied:

Samsung Mobile does not comment on rumors or speculation. With regard to the Froyo update, we recently issued the following statement: "Samsung feels it is important to make the Android 2.2/Froyo upgrade available only after we feel that we can give the millions of U.S. Galaxy S owners a simple and reliable upgrade experience. Due to the complexity and unique functionality of each Galaxy S device, we are performing additional testing and are working to make the Android 2.2/Froyo upgrade available to all U.S. Galaxy S owners, including the Samsung Vibrant, as soon as possible.

That noncommital answer surely isn't going to sit well with Vibrant owners, or owners of Epic 4Gs, Fascinates, or Captivates, either.

Whether or not Samsung is artificially delaying the Vibrant Froyo update, none of the other U.S. Samsung Galaxy S smartphones have seen an update either. When the Galaxy S series of Android phones was first unveiled in late June, Samsung promised Froyo updates. None have come, and many other phones, such as the Motorola Droid X and HTC Evo 4G, have received an Android 2.2 update.

One difference between those phones and the Samsung phones, however, is that Samsung's are "infected" with TouchWiz on top of Android. Those UI layers often cause issues with upgrades, although the Droid X does carry MotoBlur, and the Evo 4G Sense. That, in fact, could be the real issue.  Either way, U.S. Galaxy S owners expect an update.

Tipster claims Samsung blocking Vibrant's Froyo build to help Vibrant 4G Plus sales

Corporations want to maximize their profits, both for themselves and their shareholders. Thus, this shouldn't come as a surprise.

A tipster has come forward and said that Samsung is holding back the Android 2.2 (Froyo) update from the T-Mobile Vibrant (Samsung Galaxy S variant) because they are afraid that such an update will impact sales of their upcoming Samsung Vibrant 4G Plus.

Reportedly, the new device is little different than the original Vibrant. In addition to the original Vibrant, the Vibrant 4G Plus has a front-facing camera, Android 2.2, and HSDPA+ 21 support.

Here's what the tipster said:

Some disturbing things have happened the last week or so concerning our “Vibrant”. Samsung has NOT allowed us to push the update OTA for 2.2 because they feel it will decrease the value of the upcoming Vibrant4G +. While from a marketing aspect i totally understand, as the Vibrant 4G is what the original Vibrant should have been in the 1st place. But to shun off and bold face lie to customers is NOT what T-Mobile is about.

It should be noted that while at first the tipster said that the Vibrant would achieve the same level of 4G support as the Vibrant 4G Plus, he later backed off of that, saying that wjth Froyo the Vibrant would see a larger speed increase than other devices, but not full 4G.

Naturally, however, every little bit of speed-up is welcome, and nevertheless, assuming this is true, it's shady dealings for Samsung.

Samsung's wi-fi only Galaxy Tab finally announced; expect Q1 delivery

Samsung has announced what has been expected since the Galaxy Tab was first announced: a wi-fi only version of the Android-powered 7-inch Galaxy Tab tablet. Expect to be able to get your hands on one sometime in Q1 2011.

It's pretty much the same device as the other Galaxy Tabs: Android 2.2 (Froyo, 7-inch TFT display with 1024 x 600 WSVGA resolution. It includes 16GB of internal storage and has a microSD slot for up to 32 GB of additional storage. The Galaxy tab has both front- (1.3 megapixel) and rear-facing (3 megapixel) cameras, as well.

Aside from that, there's not much new, and price was not revealed in the press release. Hopefully it will be dirt cheap as by the time it arrives, there could be a number of other tablets on the market, some of them sporting tablet-optimized Honeycomb (Android 3.0) as well.

The full press release is here.

Samsung reaches target, sells 10 million Galaxy S smartphones

Samsung has met its goal of selling 10 million Galaxy S smartphones in 2010. Samsung confirmed that the popular Android phone, launched seven months ago, has reached the target the company had set for 2010.

The numbers are small in comparison to iPhone 4 numbers, but Android phones can never reach the peak of an iPhone because, unlike the iPhone which sells at most two variations annually, Android phones come from a number of manufacturers and in a myriad of varieties and form factors.

That has proven to be both a strength and a weakness, particularly with regards to the much-criticized fragmentation of the OS.  At the same time, however, Android phones, by some research firms' estimates have overtaken iPhones globally, as well as in the U.S.

Following the successful launch of the Galaxy S, Samsung played off the name with the Galaxy Tab tablets which, although running a non-tablet-optimized version of Android, have also seen success.

Samsung has been public in its desire to become the number one mobile manufacturer globally.

Verizon slices Samsung Galaxy Tab price by $100: report

Verizon is reportedly dropping the price on the Samsung Galaxy Tab by $100, to $499. Additionally, Verizon is going to throw in $60 worth of free movie rentals, either via the Blockbuster app or Media Hub.

For those who might have purchased recently, according to the report, if you have your receipt and it's been within the last two weeks, you can get the difference refunded. The report comes via retail sources, speaking to Droid-Life.

Samsung says it has shipped around 1.5 million Tabs since the devices' launch about three months ago. That was up 50 percent on its original estimates. Still, it's hard to say how it's doing for Verizon. After all, Verizon has the iPad sitting right next to it on its retail shelves, and although it does not have build in 3G like the Galaxy tab, for $30 more (at the Galaxy Tab's original $599 price point), a customer gets a MiFi hotspot to carry that allows them to connect up to five devices to 3G.

Additionally, it's expected that a number of android tablets will be introduced at CES, including Motorola's highly anticipated Xoom, so there will be sales pressure there, too.

Finally, it's widely expected that with a Verizon iPhone soon-to-come, a Verizon iPad, including 3G connectivity built-in, can't be far behind (realistically, for those who don't mind carrying an extra device around, the MiFi-enabled iPad is a better deal).

None of this has been officially confirmed via a press release or matched on Verizon's website, which still has the Galaxy Tab at $599.

This wouldn't be the first Galaxy Tab price cut. T-Mobile cut their price by $50 (to $349) not long ago, for a subsidized on-contract Galaxy Tab. All four major U.S carriers sell a version of the Galaxy Tab, with Verizon's version the only one that does not require a contract, hence its higher price.