US network Sprint has announced that a rather natty new Android-powered phone, boldly christened the Samsung EPIC 4G, will be taxiing into their stores from August 31st.
It’s a bit of a looker alright too, with the 3G/4G handset packing a generous 4-inch super AMOLED display and slide-out QWERTY keyboard for all your typing needs.
Powered by a 1 GHz Cortex A8 Hummingbird processor, connectivity options abound, with Wi-Fi b/g/n, Bluetooth, GPS and 3G and 4G radios onboard, with the device purring along on Android 2.1 (with, presumably, a 2.2 upgrade not far behind).
Video chat
On the back of the handset can be found a 5-megapixel camera with support for 720p video recording, and there’s a front facing VGA camera for video nattering, if that’s your bag.
Also present and correct is a digital compass, proximity sensor, light sensor and GPS Navigation, with a 16 GB microSD card lobbed in for nowt.
The device will retail for $249.99 on-contract, and if all this is setting your wallet into convulsions of uncontrollable want, you can register your interest on Sprint’s dedicated webpage.
Features:
Be entertained 24/7
• 4-inch Super AMOLED capacitive display for an HDTV-quality viewing experience, plus pinch-to-zoom
Records and plays back DRM-free content at 720p 30fps HD• Android™ 2.1, with access to more than 65,000 apps on Android Market™
• Future access to the Samsung Media Hub, a full library of video and literary content powered by some of the biggest names in entertainment (coming soon)
• Instantly download eBooks from Skiff, Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Kobo
• Six-axis motion sensor for the ultimate gaming experience
• Dual cameras: 5-megapixel camera/camcorder with autofocus, Power LED flash and 3x digital zoom for HD video (720p) recording for capture and playback on an HD television, and front-facing VGA camera for video chat and more
• Qik® video application for video chat service and live video sharing
• Samsung Social Hub integrates all of the user’s social networking services, messages, personal and business email, calendars and contacts
• Samsung’s exclusive AllShare service to wirelessly share stored music, pictures and HD video to other DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) Certified™ home electronics, including HDTVs, monitors, digital cameras, printers and more
More great stuff
• 3G/4G capability — the latest arrival to the first wireless 4G network from a national carrier
• 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot capability — connects up to five Wi-Fi enabled devices
• Slide-out QWERTY and virtual Swype keyboards
• Digital compass, proximity sensor, light sensor and GPS Navigation
• Samsung 1GHz Cortex A8 Hummingbird Application Processor
• Standard removable 1500mAh Lithium (Li-on) battery
• Expandable memory: 16 GB microSD™ card included; supports up to 32 GB
• Built-in Wi-Fi: 802.11 b/g/n
Looks pretty darn good!
(If I was being a miserably, moany old git I’d mutter something about the lack of an FM radio, but I’m proberbly in a tiny minority when I look for that on a spec sheet)