This device is the first of several Samsung Galaxy S II based devices to be released here in the United States, this WiMAX version sporting a collection of carrier-based apps alongside what Samsung has revealed as a brand new twist on their TouchWiz interface. Another spec you may recognize from the original version of the Galaxy S II is the 1.2GHz dual-core processor under the hood – this combined with the gigantic 4.5-inch Super AMOLED Plus display we’ve seen in action before on our Samsung Infuse 4G from AT&T is set up to be a double-whammy without a doubt.

What we’re seeing here with our own fingers wrapped around the device is a very similar device to what we’ve seen in the Galaxy S II released internationally and the Infuse 4G, again a 4.5-inch Samsung device with a single-core processor. This WiMAX version of the device has a unique bit of hardware wrapped around it, a slightly different and more round feeling device than the AT&T version of the device. Have a look at our hands-on video here for the full rundown.

Also head back to the original announcement post for a total in-depth look at what the specs are as we know them right this moment. Spoiler: this is the first Galaxy S II set to be released here in the United States, with the AT&T version to come next, followed by the T-Mobile version last.

A product slide showing the Samsung Galaxy S II Epic 4G Touch turned up on Samsung’s Mobile Product site, essentially confirming the device ahead of schedule. We’ve already seen the device in leaked press shots, so it’s not a complete surprise anyhow. But what’s interesting is that the slides indicate that the handset will actually sport a 4.52-inch Super AMOLED Plus display, which is a bump up from the 4.3-inch screen of the original Galaxy S II.

Still, there are variants for AT&T and T-Mobile that have yet to be leaked. We’ll be covering the Samsung event live in NYC, so make sure to check back by 6pm EST for the full official details on the US debut of the Samsung Galaxy S II.

UPDATE: check out our hands-on post with the SGSIIE4GT aka Samsung Galaxy S II Epic 4G Touch hands-on video and photo collection we’ve got right now!

[via Android Community]

This particular Samsung Galaxy S II variant was originally rumored to be called the Samsung Within. That didn’t pan out, which is a good thing since the new name is more suited to this epic phone with possibly the slimmest and most lightweight chassis at 8.49mm thin and a powerful dual-core processor. For more details on the phone, you can check out our full review of the European release of the Galaxy S II.

Also, not panning out are rumors that the US Galaxy S II would debut on Verizon first. In fact, the latest reports say that the phone won’t be released on Verizon at all, but will launch on the other three major US carriers instead. This does give the Motorola Droid Bionic more chances at success now being the only dual-core LTE smartphone to launch on Verizon in the coming weeks.

[via PocketNow]

It seems clear that given the names of at least two of these three devices that the Samsung Galaxy S II variant by the name of Epic 4G Touch will either indeed be a variant of the Samsung Within or will be replacing it entirely. Another notion you may find interesting is the previous set of tips which have decidedly shown the Epic 2 to be a WiMAX version of the Samsung Galaxy S II with a round-sided keyboard sliding out from beneath it while the Samsung Epic 4G would then be the simple touchscreen-only device on the same network more reminiscent of the already-released version of the Samsung Galaxy S II which we’ve got a full review of for your convenience.

The HTC EVO Design 4G is likely the next and slightly downgraded version of an HTC device being released directly in line with the HTC EVO 3D. This device will more than likely be the store name for the code-named HTC Kingdom, a device we now believe to be essentially the same device as the HTC EVO 3D but with a single-core 1.2GHz Qualcomm processor instead of dual-core and with a single 5-megapixel camera on the back instead of the 3D capable set of cameras of the already released EVO 3D, which we’ve also got a review of, conveniently.

The Motorola Admiral we’re not so sure of. With the dual-core wave of devices coming out lately on several carriers, we’ve got to guess that this is Motorola’s next-generation echo of the DROID 3, it being the first dual-core full-QWERTY-keyboard-toting device on the market, currently only on Verizon – also note the lack of the 4G in the title. Will it only run on 3G, or are we over the so-called “4G” naming racket finally finished? – Just kidding, we’re in for a long “4G” ride.

[via Engadget]

The other Samsung is described as “a full touch 4G” phone, with no QWERTY but everything else pointing to one of the US carrier variants of the Samsung Galaxy S II. That would imply a WiMAX upgrade for the Super AMOLED Plus smartphone, though we’re guessing the same 1.2GHz dual-core processor and 8-megapixel, Full HD video capable camera.

Next, there’s some CDMA BlackBerry news for the quarter, with the Bold Touch and the Monaco (aka BlackBerry Touch) tipped to arrive sometime between July and September. Each will be Global Phones, with both CDMA and GSM radios for use in North America and when roaming abroad. A third, unnamed device will apparently support push-to-talk, as will a few new Kyocera/Sanyo handsets.

The Froyo update has messed up data connectivity and impaired accessing media stored the SD card. The only solution right now is to have Epic 4G owners do a hard reset on their phone, effectively wiping out all the data. Samsung and Sprint are working together to resolve the issue, but a timetable hasn’t been given on when the fix will come.

This is a big setback considering Epic 4G owners have been running Android 2.1 since last August and Android 2.3 is already on the prowl. The Android 2.2 update comes with support for apps on the SD card, updates voice commands for Bluetooth dialing, and updates for many of the apps and widgets.

[via Electronista]

Updating to Android 2.2 Froyo for the Samsung Epic 4G will mean increased speed, improved Bluetooth device support, Bluetooth voice dialing, Flash Player 10.1, GPS enhancements, and the ability to install applications to external storage. Once your device has been queued by Sprint, you will receive a message on your device letting you know the update is available. If you attempt to check manually before your device is queued, you will receive a “no upgrade available” message.

The Sanyo Zio will also receive the Android 2.2 Froyo update on February 21st. Improvements here will include the addition of Swype, Sprint Zone 2.5.5, Sprint ID activation improvements, and better battery life. However, Flash 10.1 may not be supported and the update will come as three separate downloads best received via a Wi-Fi connection.

[via IntoMobile]

R3 Media Network

Editor’s Choice
Google Hotpot NFC stickers will work with Nexus S [NFC SUPER COOLNESS]
Notion Ink prompting concerns with lack of hardware demo, sky-high return fees [Updated] [ZIP UP YOUR WALLETS AND WAIT]
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Speakal outs Cool iPig iPhone dock system [SO CUTE PIGGY PIGGY]

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Notion Ink doubts surface: questions first, pre-orders later [Updated]
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HTV Evo gets Ballistic HD case protection
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RJI survey looks into how people use their iPad
Orbotix Sphero remote-control game ball due at CES 2011
Amazon WikiLeaks ebook back on sale as retailer denies hypocrisy
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To see more wrap-up posts, follow the following tags: [The Daily Slash] or [SlashGear Morning Wrap-up]

“We  were planning to release an update for your Samsung Epic 4G on 9/30.   The file was delivered and on track for distribution but late this  afternoon, we learned that an administrative issue prevented Google from releasing the update as we had planned.  We are working to resolve the  issue and will provide an update as soon as we understand the new  delivery schedule.

We  would like to clarify that the timing of this update has nothing to do  with the 30 day return window that many of you on these blogs have been  discussing and that this delay has nothing to do with any last minute  changes within the release package itself.  The delay is simply due to  an administrative issue that we are working to resolve.” Sprint statement

Sprint’s reference to the 30 day return window is apparently the carrier’s attempt to dismiss speculation that it is hoping to push Epic 4G owners past the point where, according to the T&Cs of their purchase, they can return the phone without penalty.  While we do doubt that Sprint would purposefully delay the update, it does seem like one occasion where extending that deadline would be the customer-friendly thing to do.

Media Hub can be used on 5 different devices. You can download the same content from one device to another, as long as they are on the same account. High quality audio and video will be featured in the Media Hub, as Samsung hopes to have the best media on their devices at all times. If you’re on 3G or WiFI, you’ll be able to start streaming your downloading content immediately. You don’t have to wait for it to download completely before you watch. Samsung also announced that they are working collaboratively with MTV Networks, NBC, Paramount, Universal Studios, and Warner to bring the best media to the Galaxy devices. And Samsung plans on adding more partners over time. You will also be able to rent, too. There was some talk that this digital storefront would be purchase only, but Samsung did confirm that you can rent content, too. No word on what, exactly, you can rent.

Stay tuned as we bring you the latest information from Samsung, as they continue to announce new details and features from their event.

Physically and aesthetically the DROID 2 is very much an evolution of its predecessor, itself a particularly distinctive device. Motorola has toned down some of the more dramatic hard lines and eye-catching detailing – gone, for instance, is the gold grill-work, replaced by more traditional silver – and the result is an altogether smoother, slicker device. The most noticeable physical change is to the keyboard, and welcome it is too. The original DROID’s QWERTY was frustratingly flat and even more annoyingly offset, with Motorola choosing to put a large D-pad on the right hand side and forcing users to stretch their thumb across.

On the DROID 2, however, the D-pad has been relegated to a small, far more usable arrow key cluster integrated with the keyboard itself, and the buttons are now all slightly domed. The layout itself is improved, with no blank placeholder keys left wasted, and the typing experience on the whole is significantly improved. Not as good as, say, the Samsung Epic 4G (review) – which benefits from being a bigger handset and thus having more room for its keyboard – but certainly enough to put the original DROID to shame.

Other changes between the two handsets are more subtle, certainly when viewed from the outside. The same 3.7-inch 854 x 480 capacitive LCD touchscreen is used, and it remains a strong panel (though pales these days in comparison to the Galaxy S’ Super AMOLED screen or the iPhone 4′s Retina Display). Motorola has changed the order of the touch-sensitive buttons under the screen – search is still on the far right, but menu, home and back have all been shifted, meaning DROID 2 upgraders will have to do a little muscle-memory retraining – but the overall shape of the new phone is generally the same. That means you can use the same accessories, the Desk Dock and Car Dock, as for the original DROID, rather than spending on new ones.

Inside, Motorola has used a 1GHz OMAP 36×0 series processor, almost twice as fast as the original, and that – coupled with Android 2.2 Froyo being loaded as standard – makes for a generally swift moving software experience. It’s the same CPU as in the Motorola DROID X (as well as 512MB of RAM) but of course the touchscreen-only phone ships with Android 2.1 Eclair. We’ve seen the improvement Google’s more recent Android release makes to day-to-day performance on other devices, and indeed the DROID 2 felt a little snappier completing regular task than the DROID X did.

It’s worth remembering, however, that the original DROID is getting an Android 2.2 update right now, potentially smartening up the existing phone to the point where current owners might not choose to upgrade to the DROID 2. Also in their favor is the original handset’s unmodified OS; in contrast, like the DROID X, Motorola has customized Android 2.2. The latest, relatively pared down version of MOTOBLUR makes an appearance, together with dynamically resizable widgets, for pulling in social networking updates from Facebook, Twitter and others. Unfortunately, as we’ve seen before (from Motorola and other device manufacturers), when the OS is modified from stock it usually takes longer for handsets to get newer Android versions. As we felt with the DROID X, the customizations Motorola have chosen simply don’t deliver enough extra usability, for us, to warrant the likelihood of later delays.

The DROID X’s camera UI is carried over to the DROID 2, but unfortunately the hardware hasn’t come with it; instead there’s a 5-megapixel autofocus camera, just as you’d get on the first DROID. It pales in comparison to modern rivals, too. Indoor stills, despite the dual-LED flash, are fuzzy and prone to blurring, while outdoor shots have decent color balance but still lack fine detail when blown up. It’s not a terrible camera, no, but rivals like Samsung are definitely doing better. As for the camcorder, it falls short of the 720p HD video commonly found on high-end alternatives, instead maxing out at 720 x 480. Clips tend toward the blurry, though the exposure and color-balance is reasonable.

Motorola’s other main changes to the software are to preload Swype, the gesture-based onscreen keyboard gaining momentum on Android phones, and a Mobile Hotspot app, which allows you to share your 3G connections among up to five WiFi clients. However we wish the company had spent some more time finessing their Microsoft Exchange integration; the problems with sync we experienced on the original DROID are still apparent on the second-gen model, despite an update to ActiveSync 12.0. There’s now Flash 10.1 support in the Android browser, which worked reasonably well, though certain games are obviously written for keyboard and mouse control and don’t lend themselves so well to touchscreens. We were able to stream in-page video, but higher bitrates content did tend to choke the DROID 2.

More worrying, though, were the persistent signal and call issues. We praised the original DROID for its strong audio quality and tenacious grip on Verizon’s network, but the same really can’t be said for the DROID 2. Without physically moving the handset we saw it flick between various levels of Internet connection speed, and minor changes in position were enough to prematurely end conversations. It’s a shame, because when we had a solid connection the in-call audio was strong and clear. Hopefully Motorola will release a firmware update to address reception, since we’re not the only people to have complaints about the DROID 2′s abilities in this area. Finally, we’d like to have seen Motorola make this a world-phone, rather than CDMA-only; as with its predecessor, take the DROID 2 outside of North America and you won’t be able to roam onto the more common GSM networks.

With the DROID 2′s WiFi b/g/n and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR turned on, we managed to get through a regular workday on a single charge of the 1,400mAh battery. Still, as with most other recent smartphones, you’ll be charging nightly: Motorola’s Desk Stand – which automatically puts the DROID 2 into a clock/media player mode – makes this more palatable, at least.

When we started, we asked whether Motorola had done enough with the DROID 2 to maintain their momentum, or whether they’d perhaps been too conservative in their changes. The outcome is certainly less clear-cut than back when we reviewed the DROID. In the new handset’s favor are the improved keyboard, faster CPU and boosted RAM; however the mediocre camera and customized Android 2.2 OS count against it. That’s before you get to aberrations of the cellular wireless, which we’re hoping will be addressed soon. For original Verizon DROID owners, we don’t see any great push to upgrade; the keyboard is improved, yes, but if physical QWERTY is your priority then there are better ‘boards out there, and the Android 2.2 update for the first phone closes the gap when it comes to functionality.

In the context of the rest of the market, meanwhile, the DROID 2′s 3.7-inch display is beginning to feel a little small. The DROID X’s 4.3-inch panel is huge in comparison, and even 4-inch phones leave the DROID 2 feeling cramped. Still, there are plenty of people who prefer physically smaller devices. We’re glad to see the Android smartphone segment continue to grow – we’re all for more choice, after all – but Motorola will likely find the Verizon DROID 2 makes less of a splash than its illustrious predecessor managed.

As we found in our review of the Epic 4G, the smartphone is one of the best Android devices out there, and certainly makes for a strong alternative to the bestselling HTC.  The physical keyboard is excellent, and the huge Super AMOLED display highly impressive.

If you’re on a budget then it’s worth heading over to Amazon, who are listing the Epic 4G for $199 (a $50 saving) when you take out a new contract through them; however they’re not expecting stock for 2-4 weeks.  Whoever you buy from, plans start from $69.99 including unlimited 4G data.

[via Android Community]

At 4.90 x 2.54 x 0.56 inches the Epic 4G can’t really be called discrete. It’s a hefty chunk of matte and gloss finish black and silver plastic, wider than the DROID X, and with Samsung eschewing metal but still opting for premium materials that feel suitably high-end. We’d generally prefer metal construction, but the weight impact on the Epic 4G would likely have been significant (already it’s 5.46oz). Up top there’s a 3.5mm headphone socket together with a microUSB port covered with a sliding door; on the left edge is the volume rocker and on the right the power/lock key and a camera shortcut. Under the Teflon-coated bowed back panel is a microSD slot, with Samsung including a 16GB card in the box and the Epic 4G supporting up to 32GB cards. There’s also the sizeable 1,500mAh battery.

Most eye-catching is the Epic 4G’s display, with Samsung still keeping their latest breed of Super AMOLED displays to themselves. Measuring 4-inches and running at WVGA resolution, it’s a bigger panel but with fewer pixels than you’d find fronting the iPhone 4. Still, while it’s no Retina Display, it’s altogether an enjoyable experience in daily use. Colors and contrast are both amazing, viewing angles are broad and, unlike regular AMOLED panels, the Epic 4G can be used outdoors without demanding you shade it entirely.

Under the touchscreen is a row of touch-sensitive keys – menu, home, back and search – as on the Vibrant and Captivate, though no D-pad or optical joystick. We most miss that sort of control when trying to edit text, but of course with a flick the Epic 4G reveals its full QWERTY keyboard (complete with dedicated arrow keys). The scale of the smartphone means there’s plenty of room for buttons, and Samsung hasn’t held back: the five-row ‘board (with dedicated number row) is flanked by menu and back buttons on the left, and home and search buttons on the right. The keys themselves offer a very good typing experience, being tactile and providing just the right resistance, and they’re well spaced too. Our sole frustration is the spacebar, a double-key width that feels like it should be wider; we wish Samsung had left off the dedicated emoticon button and made the spacebar 50-percent broader again.

As the name suggests, the Epic 4G not only makes use of Sprint’s EVDO Rev.A 3G network but the 4G (WiMAX) coverage found in a growing number of US cities. The second Android device to make use of this – after the perpetually out-of-stock HTC EVO 4G – and the first to pair 4G with a hardware keyboard, the Samsung is left with something of an advantage in a market where data connections are key. As well as cellular data there’s also WiFi b/g/n and Bluetooth 3.0, along with GPS, a digital compass and a 6-axis accelerometer.

On the software side, the Epic 4G is generally reminiscent of the Galaxy S. Samsung has used Android 2.1, as before, complete with their TouchWiz 3.0 interface that changes the UI, adds in social networking, news and media widgets, and generally tweaks the regular Android experience. As with the Galaxy S family of devices, TouchWiz remains an acquired taste, and it’s one we’re generally not keen on. The iconography feels like it’s aping iOS, while many of the changes seem done not to improve the user experience but simply to make it distinctly Samsung. When you consider that updates to the core OS will be delayed thanks to the work involved in bringing TouchWiz up to date accordingly, that seems like a fair amount of compromise for negligible benefit. Samsung has committed to bringing Android 2.2 Froyo to the Epic 4G, though there’s no definitive timescale for its release; by the time it arrives, 3.0 Gingerbread might be on the cards too. The company also preloads the Swype virtual keyboard app, for times when you don’t want to pop out the hardware ‘board.

Happily, while use of the Galaxy S series was punctuated with freezes and pauses, anecdotally blamed upon the handsets’ use of an internal microSD card for their onboard storage, the Epic 4G seems generally free of such lag. Indeed, the 1GHz Hummingbird processor – a relative of Qualcomm’s broadly-adopted Snapdragon – paired with 512MB of RAM and 1GB of ROM shifts between applications slickly, with minimal delay in loading media content or other smartphone trouble-spots such as booting up the camera.

As for that camera, image quality is very strong. At 5-megapixels it’s on-a-par spec-sheet wise with its main rivals, with an LED flash, autofocus and the ability to record 720p HD video clips. Still pictures are nicely detailed with decent color balance and little in the way of fuzz when at reasonable levels of zoom. Meanwhile, videos are relatively blur-free and don’t suffer from over-compression. The LED flash, while limited in its range, is handy all the same when faced with the right circumstances. Up front is a VGA-quality webcam intended for video calls; they’re not supported natively in Android yet, but apps like the preloaded Qik can make use of them (and over 3G and WiFi connections, rather than the iPhone 4′s WiFi-only FaceTime).

Samsung is carving something of a niche for itself for media playback, with the Galaxy S range setting out a broad stall of supported audio and video codecs. The Epic 4G follows in those footsteps, with MP4, DivX, WMV, H.263 and H.264 video support and MP4, WAV, eAAC+, AC3 and FLAC audio support. Samsung’s AllShare app is also preloaded, turning the Epic 4G into a DLNA media streamer. That way, DLNA-compliant TVs, WiFi radios or other devices can wirelessly play back content stored on the smartphone, useful for showing off photos and video clips you’ve recorded. If your TV doesn’t have DLNA support integrated, Samsung will also sell you the “WMG160 WiFi HD streaming device”, a standalone wireless streamer for A/V and document files.

The company also remains one of the few doing ActiveSync correctly, with the Epic 4G’s Exchange support giving us none of the headaches as we’ve had on, say, Motorola’s recent Android phones. There’s also a simple task manager, making killing runaway apps simple. Best of all, the GPS issues which many have reported affecting Galaxy S family devices aren’t apparent on the Epic 4G, with our review unit proving capable of quickly establishing a fix and tracking it accordingly.

Samsung’s last push to distinguish functionality is their Media Hub, a multimedia store set for imminent launch. Offering movies, TV episodes, music and more, it’s Samsung’s attempt to take on iTunes. Sprint gave us a demonstration of the incoming system, which you can watch below:

The Epic 4G may be asked to perform more than its fair share of duties, but voice calls can’t be ignored. Happily performance here is also strong, with a loud speakerphone and crisp audio for both parties. Thanks to the 4G you’ll be spending more time looking at the signal meter to see if you’re accessing the WiMAX network; we’d like the see the carrier add a 4G-specific layer to Google Maps, so you can more easily track where you’ll get access to the fastest data.

The flip-side to 4G is its demands on the battery, and Samsung has sensible equipped the Epic 4G with a sizeable 1,500mAh pack. That, they estimate, is good for up to 6hrs talktime or over 216hrs standby; of course, typical use is more likely a combination of data services, messaging and voice calls, and harder to pin down. As with the EVO 4G, sharing a WiMAX connection using the Epic 4G’s mobile hotspot app can drain the battery in four hours or so, but more casual browsing and push email allows the Samsung to last a day of use. For better or for worse, Android has plenty of areas where you can tweak settings to prolong runtime, if you choose to sacrifice unwanted functionality; not everyone will want the Epic 4G’s automatically-updating news widgets, or the social networking integration, or photo-geotagging, and spending some time in the settings pages is, as on any device, a good way to maximize use.

Sprint Epic hands-on demo

Tastes differ, but we feel pretty confident in calling the Samsung Epic 4G the best smartphone on the Sprint network today. That success is primarily the sum of the brilliant Super AMOLED display, excellent keyboard and speedy WiMAX connectivity. The compromise is TouchWiz, and we wish Samsung would concede that not everyone appreciates its skin and offer a way to return to the native Android UI. If you can live with it, you’ll have a highly capable, flexible and media-rich handset, albeit one slightly on the back foot when it comes to the latest build of Google’s OS. Still, that’s a common complaint among the variously modified devices on the market right now. Out of the box, Sprint’s Epic 4G does everything we could ask of it, with the growing space to keep up with whatever Android – and the legion of third-party developers – might have round the corner. Place your pre-order now, people; the Epic 4G is likely to be just as popular as it deserves to be.

Make sure to read our Galaxy S review and follow our twitter feed at @Androids or visit Android Community for everything Android!

Unboxing Sprint Epic 4G

Sprint Epic 4G Accessories

Some commentators are predicting a negative impact on Sprint’s ability to pull in high-end users, suggesting that Packingham was primarily responsible for pushing the carrier toward flagship high-speed devices.  The EVO 4G has been a surprising success, difficult to find in stock (though the supply limitations have been compounded by shortages of components at a manufacturing level).  For its part, Sprint says it sees no real problem with Packingham’s departure.

[via Electronista]

Sprint has officially come forward and announced that the Epic will be made available on August 31st, 2010. However, instead of doing the standard pre-order, they are doing something completely original: allowing you to reserve your handset. Instead of just hoping that your pre-order sticks, you’ll be able to actually make sure that you get a device when launch date comes around. Sprint stores, Best Buys, RadioShacks, and Walmarts are all going to be opening up early (at 8:00am your local time) to make sure that you have plenty of time in the morning to get your 4G handset, before you have to go to work and put it in your pocket. You can begin reserving the device on August 13th, which is in just a couple of days. Price wise, you’re looking at $249.99 after you sign a new, two-year contract and you send in that $100 mail-in rebate. So, that’s $350+ you’ll be dropping in the store, but hey, to get your hands on that sweet four inch display and 4G connectivity, wouldn’t you be willing to drop all of your hard earned money?

Press Release

Where to Get It
Samsung Epic 4G will be available beginningTuesday, Aug. 31, in all Sprint retail channels, including Sprint.com, Telesales (1-800-SPRINT1) and national retail partners, RadioShack, Best Buy and Walmart, with Sprint Stores opening at 8 a.m.local time. It will cost $249.99 with a new line or eligible upgrade, two-year service agreement, after a $100 mail-in rebate (taxes excluded).

A New Reservation Process
For the first time ever, Sprint is offering customers a unique opportunity to reserve Samsung Epic 4G for purchase. Customers can reserve their smartphone for purchase at www.sprint.com/epic4gbeginning Friday, Aug. 13., while supplies last. Customers who reserve Samsung Epic 4G will be able to complete their purchase beginning Tuesday, Aug. 31, and must complete their purchase no later than 6 p.m. local time on Wednesday, Sept. 1. Through the reservation process, customers will be able to reserve their devices online, pick them up in a Sprint Store, and receive the full retail experience, including Sprint’s Ready Now service.

Please see the attached news release and fact sheet.

The Epic 4G is the first 4G-capable device to feature a full, landscape-slider QWERTY keyboard. Not only that though, they’re sticking with the Samsung Galaxy S’ lineage, and packing a full 4-inch Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen display. Under the hood, you’ll find a 1GHz Cortex A8 Hummingbird application processor. You’re also getting your hands on Android 2.1, and from what we can tell, Samsung’s proprietary User Interface, TouchWiz 3.0 for good measure.

And it looks like Samsung is taking the same road that Motorola did at the launch of the Droid X. While the Epic 4G is launching with Android 2.1, both Samsung and Sprint already have plans to release Android 2.2 “in the near future.” What you’ll expect to see, changes wise, is an updated User Interface, support for Flash 10.1, as well as access to Apps2SD, or the ability to store applications on your microSD card.

You’re obviously going to get access to 3G and 4G speeds, which should get you download speeds somewhere between 3-6Mbps (according to the release — your real world results will differ on a constant basis). You’ll also be able to turn your Epic 4G into a 3G/4G mobile hotspot, which will allow you to connect up to 5 WiFi-enabled devices at once. There’s WiFi b/g/n on the device as well, so you’ll be able to connect to all your own favorite WiFi hotspots out there.

On the back of the device you’ll be getting a 5MP camera with autofocus, and the ability to record video at 720p. Not only that, but you’ll also be getting a VGA front-facing camera as well, making sure you’ll still be able to do some video calls (much like the EVO 4G before it). And, much like the Motorola Droid X that was recently announced, Samsung has their own version of DLNA sharing, called AllShare. You’ll be able to share your music, movies, and pictures on all DLNA-supported devices in your home, wirelessly. And one of the better reasons to do that is Samsung’s new Media Hub, which makes the Epic 4G the first and only 4G-enabled device that is fully optimized to serve HD-like entertainment on a handset’s screen. You’ll be able to rent or purchase movies and TV shows wherever you want. Most interesting of that, though, is this line from the press release: “…turbo-charged downloads of a full library of video and literary content…” That word literary throws us off for a bit, as that’s the only time they mention anything literary in the press release, so maybe it’s a mistake. Either that, or expect to be reading books on that 4-inch Super AMOLED display, too.

As for memory, you get 1GB of ROM, and 512MB of RAM. Sprint and Samsung are also including a 16GB microSD card in the box, but you’ll be able to cram a 32GB version in there if you’re so inclined. Something else to mention: there’s a 1500mAh battery standard, so you should be able to see a bit more improved battery life, right out of the box. But, of course, that will still completely depend on how you use it.

Unfortunately, Sprint and Samsung are still being coy about what really matters: release dates and pricing. As it goes in the press release, the companies plan on releasing more information about the essentials in the coming months, but nothing more in depth than that. If you want to pre-register, go ahead and head on over here and fill in the desired fields to get a heads-up when launch date gets closer. Check out the full press release below.

Press Release:

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – June 28, 2010 – Sprint (NYSE: S) and Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile), the No. 1 mobile phone provider in the U.S.1, today introduced the second 4G-capable handset from Sprint, Samsung Epic™ 4G, a Galaxy S™ smartphone and Samsung Mobile’s first 4G Android™-powered device.

“Sprint takes another leap forward today, announcing its second 4G-capable smartphone,” said Steve Elfman, president, Network Operations and Wholesale. “Samsung Epic 4G joins a portfolio of powerful devices offering an unprecedented simplicity and value to our customers as the only national carrier with a 4G network and devices and applications that can leverage the increased data speeds to provide a high-def entertainment and business experience in the palm of your hand.”

“Samsung Epic 4G is a powerful member of our Galaxy S smartphone portfolio which offers premium screen, speed and content features,” said Omar Khan, chief strategy officer for Samsung Mobile. “The Epic 4G ups the ante with a front-facing camera for video conferencing, a full QWERTY keyboard and lightning-fast 4G speeds.”

Samsung Epic 4G is part of a new breed of Samsung smartphones offering their very best in screen, speed and content quality for a premium user experience, and offers a fully integrated multimedia, messaging and social networking experience. It also features an exceptionally thin smartphone design with a slide out, full QWERTY keyboard and 4-inch Super AMOLED touchscreen display.

The brilliant Super AMOLED touchscreen display offers:
• The best representation of color on a mobile phone that matches original content, more than 100 times the contrast quality of other leading displays
• Faster response time that reduces “ghosting” images
• Wide viewing angles to prevent blurring or distortion
• Thinner design to offer more accurate and responsiveness to touch

Entertainment at Its Best
In the coming months, Samsung Epic 4G will have access to the Samsung Media Hub, making it the first and only 4G handset to feature a video store with movies and TV available for purchase or rental, and video content set up for an HD-like entertainment experience on a handset screen. With 4G from Sprint, users will be able to get turbo-charged downloads of a full library of video and literary content powered by some of the biggest names in entertainment.

Samsung Epic 4G also features 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. Through AllShare, users will be able to capture moments with the phone’s camera and camcorder, and wirelessly show them to friends or family on their DLNA certified HDTV or download music from a PC to Samsung Epic 4G and take on the road.

Amazing Features
Powered by the Android 2.1 platform, Samsung Epic 4G also supports a series of advanced touch screen gestures including multi-touch pinch, long tap and zoom and vertical and horizontal swiping.

Samsung Epic 4G is the only 4G smartphone to offer three fast and easy ways to enter text onto the device – a slide-out full QWERTY keyboard, virtual keyboard and Swype technology, which allows users to input text faster and more intuitively with one continuous finger motion across the virtual keyboard.

The smartphone is designed for an optimal gaming experience with a six-axis sensor that fine tunes its accelerometer’s ability to interpret simple movements of the device, so when the phone tilts up and down or left and right, the game can immediately respond in the same directions. A demo of Asphalt 5, a popular racing game, is preloaded exclusively on Samsung Epic 4G allowing users to take full advantage of these advanced gaming capabilities.

It also features:
• Samsung 1GHz Cortex A8 Hummingbird Application Processor supports amazing 3-D graphics, faster upload and download times and the full richness of HD-like multimedia content.
• Dual camera: 5 MP camera/camcorder with autofocus, Power LED flash and 3x digital zoom for HD video3 (720p) video recording and front facing VGA camera for video chat and more
• Visual Voicemail
• Mobile Hotspot capability supporting up to five Wi-Fi enabled devices to share the 4G experience simultaneously
• Android Market™ for access to more than 50,000 useful applications, widgets and games available for download to customize the experience
• Wi-Fi® b/g/n
• 1500 mAh battery

Game-changer for Business Customers
Samsung Epic 4G is designed to deliver one of the best multi-media experience for business users in several vertical industries such as healthcare, education, public safety, construction and professional services through superior speed and display innovation. It offers support for push email and integrated calendar services, including Google™ and Yahoo, as well as Exchange ActiveSync for corporate email including enhanced device management and security features, as well as full support for Google Mobile Services.

With Android’s open-software platform, businesses can benefit from several productivity-enhancing applications available in the Android Market™ including bar code scanning, signature capture, document viewing and the ability to stream and upload video for customer approval and archival purposes.

Staying Connected with Social Networking
To make staying connected faster and easier, Samsung Epic 4G includes Samsung Social Hub designed to integrate all your social networking services, messages, personal and business email, calendars and contacts. Additionally, calendar information from portal calendars, such as Google Calendar and social networking services are displayed together in one calendar with two-way synchronization.

As work on finalizing the software is underway, Sprint expects to launch Android 2.2 for Samsung Epic 4G in the near future. With the Android 2.2 upgrade, customers can expect improvements to include the following benefits among others: updates to User Interface, improved EAS Support, improved Browser Performance including Flash 10x Support, voice Dialing Over Bluetooth and application Storage on External Memory.

A Sprint 4G developer guide is available today from the Sprint ADP Web site at http://developer.sprint.com. The Sprint 4G developer guide provides details on developing for an Android 2.1 handset and how to take advantage of the Samsung Epic 4G’s unique hardware and software capabilities and the Sprint 4G network. The Sprint Application Developer Program has been providing tools for third-party developers since Sprint first launched the Wireless Web on its phones in 2001.

Sprint will announce pricing and availability in the coming months; meanwhile customers can pre-register for more information about Samsung Epic 4G at www.sprint.com/epic4g.

Blazing trails with Sprint 4G
Sprint 4G offers a faster wireless experience than any other U.S. national wireless carrier, and Sprint is the only national carrier offering wireless 4G service today in 36 markets. Sprint 4G delivers download speeds up to 10 times faster than 3G, giving Samsung Epic 4G the fastest data speeds of any U.S. wireless device available today.2

As the first national wireless carrier to test, launch and market 4G technology, Sprint made history by launching 4G in Baltimore in September 2008.

Sprint currently offers 4G service in 36 markets: Georgia – Atlanta, Milledgeville; Hawaii – Honolulu, Maui; Idaho – Boise; Illinois – Chicago; Maryland – Baltimore; Missouri – Kansas City, St. Louis; Nevada – Las Vegas; North Carolina – Charlotte, Greensboro, (along with High Point and Winston-Salem), Raleigh (along with Cary, Chapel Hill and Durham); Oregon – Portland, Salem; Pennsylvania – Harrisburg, Lancaster, Philadelphia, Reading, York; Texas – Abilene, Amarillo, Austin, Corpus Christi, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Houston, Killeen/Temple, Lubbock, Midland/Odessa, San Antonio, Waco, Wichita Falls; Utah – Salt Lake City; Virginia – Richmond; Washington – Bellingham, Seattle. For more information, visit www.sprint.com/4G.

In 2010, Sprint expects to launch 4G service in multiple markets, including but not limited to, Boston, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Denver, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, New York City, Pittsburgh, San Francisco and Washington, D.C.

More Satisfied Than Ever
Powerful 4G smartphones like Samsung Epic 4G is one of many reasons Sprint is the most improved company in customer satisfaction, across all industries, over the last two years, according to results from the 2010 American Customer Satisfaction Index.

Sprint’s improvement was driven in part by substantial gains in two aspects of the survey. In the area of customers’ perceptions of value, Sprint now leads both AT&T and Verizon. The company also achieved an impressive improvement in the area of customer loyalty. With these gains, the company’s overall ACSI score jumped 14 points over the last two years. In the last six years of the ACSI survey, no other company has improved its satisfaction score by that many points in a two-year period.

The improvements in the ACSI survey come as Sprint has seen nine consecutive quarters of improved customer satisfaction and first call resolution. The company’s improvements have also been recognized by other independent third-parties, including Sprint winning the #1 spot for both overall satisfaction for wireless voice service providers and wireless data service providers in a Yankee Group and Mobile Enterprise magazine survey of large business decision makers. Sprint also ranked high in small and medium business customer satisfaction. Also noteworthy was Sprint’s two-year Reputation Pulse™ score increase in Reputation Institute’s 2010 U.S. Most Reputable Companies Study (published annually in Forbes). Sprint’s 18.22 percent gain puts its improvement in the top 10 percent of the 150 largest U.S. companies, ahead of both AT&T and Verizon.

About Sprint Nextel
Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline communications services bringing the freedom of mobility to consumers, businesses and government users. Sprint Nextel served more than 48 million customers at the end of the first quarter of 2010 and is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, and is the first and only wireless 4G service from a national carrier in the United States; offering industry-leading mobile data services, leading prepaid brands including Virgin Mobile USA, Boost Mobile, Common Cents Mobile and Assurance Wireless and instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. With its customer-focused strategy, you can learn more and visit Sprint at www.sprint.com or www.facebook.com/sprint and www.twitter.com/sprint.

About Samsung Telecommunications America
Samsung Telecommunications America, LLC, a Dallas-based subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., researches, develops and markets wireless handsets and telecommunications products throughout North America. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com.
About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in semiconductor, telecommunication, digital media and digital convergence technologies with 2009 consolidated sales of (US)$116.8 billion. Employing approximately 188,000 people in 185 offices across 65 countries, the company consists of eight independently operated business units: Visual Display, Mobile Communications, Telecommunication Systems, Digital Appliances, IT Solutions, Digital Imaging, Semiconductor and LCD. Recognized as one of the fastest growing global brands, Samsung Electronics is a leading producer of digital TVs, memory chips, mobile phones and TFT-LCDs. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com.