Samsung Galaxy S Family New Star: Samsung Continuum Double Screens & Grip Sensor

coninuumtickerdisplay.JPGVerizon is going to release the new Samsung Galaxy S phone, the Samsung Continuum, on November 11.  They have the user manual and details available on their website.

The Samsung Continuum
has an added second 1.8-inch 96 x 480 Super AMOLED screen (Ticker Display) below the
primary 3.4-inch (480 x 800) main Super AMOLED touchscreen. 

Features of the Samsung Continuum include

Android 2.1, running on a 1 GHz Hummingbird processor, 384MB of RAM/512 MB Flash,
2GB of internal storage, and an 8GB microSD installed.  Other specs
include 3G data support, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, DivX video playback, 3.5mm
headset jack, 3G mobile hotspots, and a 5-megapixel 720p video-capable
camera with LED flash.

gripsensor.JPGTicker Display Details


The extra screen at the bottom is called the "Ticker Display," which
shows incoming calls, new messages, and customized, real-time updates
from various sources and accounts.  While users are playing a game on the main screen or are controlling the
music player, they can answer a call from the
"Ticker Display.  There's a Grip sensor that allows the Ticker Display to
display when you grip the sides of the phone at the bottom near the
Ticker Display.

Features not reported earlier include an optional
carrying strap, external memory card slot,  Scrabble word game, Skype
mobile, Twidroyd, Tetris, MySpace, V CAST videos, Kindle, Bing search,
Swype, Voice Search, ALLShare media sharing, Voice Commands, and Voice
Recorder.

You can send multiple-contact name cards as vCards via Bluetooth to other Bluetooth devices.
There's a Buddies Now widget for shortcuts to contacts and social networking.

We don not have a price yet, but we suspect around $200 or more with a contract.  Samsung is holding a press event at 3:00 pm EST today. We'll keep you posted
.
Update 11/09/10 6:00 PM PST: The Samsung Continuum will be available for order starting Nov. 11 on  Verizon website for $199.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement and data package.  Customers will receive the rebate in the form of a debit card; upon receipt, customers may use the card as cash anywhere debit cards are accepted.  The Samsung Continuum will be available for purchase in stores beginning Nov. 18.

Along with free shipping, Verizon offers an added bonus for ordering
online with the Wireless and Mobile News coupon-link so that you can get an
Instant Phone Rebate Only Available with Online Purchases.

When it becomes official, we will compare it to the other Samsung Galaxy S smartphones that are currently available in the U.S., including the Samsung Epic 4G, Samsung Fascinate, Samsung Captivate and Samsung Vibrant.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab is coming from US Cellular, Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile and AT&T.

We will be exploring the Samsung Galaxy S phone series in future articles.  Check the Samsung Galaxy S page to see when they appear.