Samsung Galaxy Player - Hands on

[Curiouss]

Engadget

Remember how Samsung downsized the Wave to make the Wave 723 and killed off the pricey, fancy Super AMOLED display in the process? Yeah, well, the same rule applies to the Android-powered Galaxy line -- so if you were hoping to see some mind-blowing contrast ratios on Sammy's new PMP... well, you can just keep on hoping (and besides, even the mighty Tab has gone the TFT route for now). The Galaxy Player 50 is pretty cute in the flesh, featuring a 3.2-inch WQVGA LCD with multitouch capability, Android 2.1, and your choice of 8GB or 16GB worth of internal storage with microSD expansion up to 32GB. It's also packing a 2 megapixel cam on back and support for 802.11n -- and heck, like the Philips GoGear Connect it's even got a mic, basically putting it just one spec sheet line item shy of being an actual smartphone.

For all intents and purposes, the PMP feels like a midrange Android smartphone when you're holding and using it; it's reasonably responsive, and we were happy to see that it has Google Maps Navigation on board (along with the Android Market and all the other standard "Google Experience" Android apps). We found the keyboard a bit cramped, but there's only so much you can do with a portrait virtual QWERTY keyboard on a 3.2-inch display, and we imagine we could get used to it with time. Needless to say, the total package feels more put-together than the GoGear, and if we were rocking a dumbphone, wanted to keep our music compartmentalized, and couldn't stand the thought of adding an iPod touch into our lives, we imagine the 50 would be on our short list. Follow the break for Samsung's press release -- and don't forget to have a gander at the gallery!

niiiiiiiiiccceeeeee

[CrowdAds]

[Bonetwizt]

Hmmm it does sound nice. The one thing that really kept me from going hog wild and buying a Samsung P3 was the lack of Micro SD card. But with this one, if its JUST running Android, the market, has app support, extremely agnostic about media format and resolution and bit rate AND supports 32 gig micro sd cards, then it seems like the android Ipod Touch. Now, as long as it doesnt cost as much as some of the engadget comments say it will (Hey, its not even AMOLED, let alone SUPER AMOLED) OH, and any idea on teh materials? Is it Gorilla glass or plastic? Or something weird the koreans make out of shark testicles?

[Curiouss]

it says capacities of 8 or 16GB with microsd expansion of up to 32GB

[synaesthetic]

AMOLED shortage caused Samsung to yank the Galaxy S's screen from this, but why the heck did they go with a much-smaller 3.2" LCD?

Could be the same screen the P3 uses? According to Samsung, it's not--the P3 uses a 3" LCD, not 3.2".

So if they had to order new LCDs constructed, why the hell not keep the original 4" size when taking this design from the Galaxy S?

[lebellium]

The P3 uses a 480*272 3" screen. The Galaxy Player 50 uses a 400*240 3,2" so that's much worse than the P2, P3 or M1.

[Xinz]

Typing shouldn't be much of a problem once swype is installed

[RicardoDawkins]

yep--- swype---- :drolls:
But I still want the YP MB2

[DragonBottles]

I think it looks awful. Get your act together, Samsung.

[Curiouss]

^It's just the Samsung Galaxy S without the "phone" part, it's an okay design.

[Bonetwizt]

Originally Posted by DragonBottles

I think it looks awful. Get your act together, Samsung.

Only Apple snobs reject a device because of its outward appearance. Please hold your commentary until you are wizened enough to judge a device as a whole. I for one have never not bought something becuase it looked funny, aside from a car and a sandwhich. Im not saying samsung does no wrong, but this thing isnt even out yet adn this is most likely a limited run production model. Its extremely easy to change plastic color and trim materials.


Sorry for the rant but it jsut irked me.

[lebellium]

I got the Galaxy Player 50 in my hands this afternoon.
I wanted to give my first impressions tonight but we have faced some serious issues on gmp3 so I did not have the time to write it. I hope it'll be online tomorrow for you guys
For the moment you can already read my Q3 and U6 previews!

[Bonetwizt]

Can you give us a one word representation of your time with the player?

Does it compete with their P3, or is it simply jsut an additional option if you want an open player?

[Olley]

If a player can't be described well in one sentence, then it is too complicated and and/or full of compromises. JMHO.

[Bonetwizt]

Well, i dont know about that. I enjoy my Wii and i doubt i could fully and justly describe it in one sentence. I just said what is aid because i didnt want Lebby to think i was asking for a leaked copy of his article, even tho i dont read french.

[SSTC]

i want.......!!

[NiK0nvs]

i want buy this player, but i don't know when buy it. Hell me.
I live in Russia. I make order a player in Europe?

[bbaasje]

I don't like the 50 its ugly, I do like the Galaxy Player YP-GB1. when it comes out I'm gonna buy one. I'm very happy with the quality of the samsung mp3 players.

[Leroy Bad]

Does this player still have the DNSe 2.0, like the P3?

[lebellium]

The P3 has DNSe 3.0, not 2.0
The last Samsung mp3 player with DNSe 3.0 is and will remain the TicToc (YP-S1) but it has Core version only. Since then DNSe have been replaced by SoundAlive.
The First DAP that got SoundAlive is the YP-RB (only sold in Korea), followed by the Q3, U6 (Core version), YP-G50 and soon the YP-GB1.

You'll read a comparison between DNSe and SoundAlive in my Q3 review coming very soon.

[Leroy Bad]

Originally Posted by lebellium

The P3 has DNSe 3.0, not 2.0
The last Samsung mp3 player with DNSe 3.0 is and will remain the TicToc (YP-S1) but it has Core version only. Since then DNSe have been replaced by SoundAlive.
The First DAP that got SoundAlive is the YP-RB (only sold in Korea), followed by the Q3, U6 (Core version), YP-G50 and soon the YP-GB1.

You'll read a comparison between DNSe and SoundAlive in my Q3 review coming very soon.

Oh! I didn't realize the DNSe was dead already. I'll look forward to reading your review.