Rumor: Stealth will launch as Droid Charge

[Dunbar42]

Samsung’s 4G LTE Device will be called the DROID CHARGE - Droid Life: A Droid Community Blog

Pretty excited about 4/7 launch rumor. Not sure if I'll buy one or hold out for a Verizon branded Galaxy S2 or Infuse.

 

[kyler13]

Samsung’s 4G LTE Device will be called the DROID CHARGE - Droid Life: A Droid Community Blog

Pretty excited about 4/7 launch rumor. Not sure if I'll buy one or hold out for a Verizon branded Galaxy S2 or Infuse.

Tough choice. Get basically a Fascinate with a bigger screen and 4G, or wait until December for a Verizon branded Galaxy S2.

 

[jinwons]

Tough choice. Get basically a Fascinate with a bigger screen and 4G, or wait until December for a Verizon branded Galaxy S2.

I bet that SGS2 will come around early September to VZW, the time that Fascinate launched last year.

It looks like LG Thrill 4G (TI OMAP4) or SGS2 (Exynos) are the closest phones that fit your criteria for high performance phone. It still remains to be seen if qHD screen on Evo 3D (or Pyramid) is pentile or not. Early testings indicate dual core snapdragon 8260 in Pyramid is not performing any better than tegra2 phones despite of 1.2Ghz clock speed and adreno 220 GPU. Let's see how the qHD screen quality and dual core snapdragon performance play out on Evo 3D, Pyramid.

 

[SirKronan]

I bet that SGS2 will come around early September to VZW, the time that Fascinate launched last year.

It looks like LG Thrill 4G (TI OMAP4) or SGS2 (Exynos) are the closest phones that fit your criteria for high performance phone. It still remains to be seen if qHD screen on Evo 3D (or Pyramid) is pentile or not. Early testings indicate dual core snapdragon 8260 in Pyramid is not performing any better than tegra2 phones despite of 1.2Ghz clock speed and adreno 220 GPU. Let's see how the qHD screen quality and dual core snapdragon performance play out on Evo 3D, Pyramid.

This rumor pegs it with a dual core:

Samsung Stealth V with Verizon 4G LTE hits the FCC [Pics] | Android Community

We'll see. Hopefully soon. I don't want a thunderbolt. I want HDMI out!!!

 

[gwlaw99]

Imagine if it is dual core but Samsung, per past behavior, never upgrades it to 2.4 which will be the first version to enable dual core use.

 

[jinwons]

Upgrade from 2.1 to 2.2 was big because of flash, SD memory transfer support. So their slow update on it was bad. But I don't think upgrade from 2.3 to 2.4 will be that significant. So even if Samsung repeats that slow action on update which I doubt, it won't be that bad. And their phones are fairly root friendly anyway.

 

[Vehtemas]

Upgrade from 2.1 to 2.2 was big because of flash, SD memory transfer support. So their slow update on it was bad. But I don't think upgrade from 2.3 to 2.4 will be that significant. So even if Samsung repeats that slow action on update which I doubt, it won't be that bad. And their phones are fairly root friendly anyway.

2.3 to 2.4 will enable dual core support, 100% super important to a dual core phone.

 

[SirKronan]

2.3 to 2.4 will enable dual core support, 100% super important to a dual core phone.

SirKronan's gut says:

"The Stealth/Charge will not be a dual core phone, according to the prophecy."

SirKronan hopes his gut is wrong.

 

[jinwons]

2.3 to 2.4 will enable dual core support, 100% super important to a dual core phone.

Well, that's not entirely correct. That's a misconception widely spread even on this forum. 2.4 will allow single core android device to run apps designed for dual core Honeycomb devce along with some other minor improvements over 2.3 gingerbread. Dual core phones like Optimus 2X, Atrix running even 2.2 are able to run apps, games designed for dual core processors by splitting it to two threads. Nvdia officially confirmed this too. Tegra2 phones with 2.2 score much higher than even overclocked single core phones in benchmarks utilizing multi-cores. I put some article, report on it below.

http://androidevolutions.com/tag/android-2-2-dual-core/

"According to Pocket-lint‘s sources at ViewSonic, Google has pulled forward the v2.4 release date so as to bring support for applications coded for dual-core devices – such as those running Android 3.0 Honeycomb – to single-core handsets, something Android 2.3 is currently unable to do."

Android 2.4 Gingerbread update due April with dual-core app support | Android Community

So I think single core phones will benefit more from 2.4 than dual core phones.

 

[SirKronan]

April 7th rapidly approaching. As is the date for my new every two, albeit in the diminished form...

If the hummingbird processor is slightly improved - like the Qualcomm processor on the TB - then this phone will still be at the top of my list. Main reasons, probably in order:

1. HDMI out
2. Screen - WOW can't wait to see this
3. 8MP camera and 1080p video
4. PowerGPU still on par (some say faster) than Adreno in TB and LG Revolution (rumored)

Is it really going to have less than 1GB of internal memory though?? With more and more apps, and bigger and bigger games, and more and more of the money train squarely in the mobile app market for smartphone devices, this makes no sense. I though the 2GB on the Fascinate was a little skimpy, but less than 1GB?? And in the face of cheaper than ever memory chip prices?

If it's stupid fast NAND stuff, like the best stuff Samsung makes, then you won't hear another complaint out of me, though. Even at less than 1GB that stuff is crazy fast.

 

[kyler13]

April 7th rapidly approaching. As is the date for my new every two, albeit in the diminished form...

If the hummingbird processor is slightly improved - like the Qualcomm processor on the TB - then this phone will still be at the top of my list. Main reasons, probably in order:

1. HDMI out
2. Screen - WOW can't wait to see this
3. 8MP camera and 1080p video
4. PowerGPU still on par (some say faster) than Adreno in TB and LG Revolution (rumored)

Is it really going to have less than 1GB of internal memory though?? With more and more apps, and bigger and bigger games, and more and more of the money train squarely in the mobile app market for smartphone devices, this makes no sense. I though the 2GB on the Fascinate was a little skimpy, but less than 1GB?? And in the face of cheaper than ever memory chip prices?

If it's stupid fast NAND stuff, like the best stuff Samsung makes, then you won't hear another complaint out of me, though. Even at less than 1GB that stuff is crazy fast.

I've softened a bit on my stance in that I think the phone would be fine with the Hummingbird processor. However, I won't pay a premium simply for LTE if the hardware is the same. Yeah, the SAP screen is pretty nice, but let's face it. The rest of the hardware is pretty much commoditized. Unless they drop the Exynos in, my bottom line is $150 on contract. And I don't see that happening since I'm locked in with Verizon for the annual upgrade option. Oh well.

 

[SirKronan]

I've softened a bit on my stance in that I think the phone would be fine with the Hummingbird processor. However, I won't pay a premium simply for LTE if the hardware is the same. Yeah, the SAP screen is pretty nice, but let's face it. The rest of the hardware is pretty much commoditized. Unless they drop the Exynos in, my bottom line is $150 on contract. And I don't see that happening since I'm locked in with Verizon for the annual upgrade option. Oh well.

Don't forget 3rd party vendors, if you're willing to do the two year, that is. I got my last Fascinate for $50. And I purposefully keep my 3rd line for two reasons:
1. Keep my old Wyoming number
2. Upgrade phones more often

 

[jinwons]

Since Samsung, LG have been investing ton of money into display technology, their phones will have decent screens. That's pretty much given for them.

As for the CPUs in the phone, things are really starting to heat up this year and Qualcomm Snapdragon seems to be losing its edge to TI, Nvidia, Samsung. Even its 3rd gen snapdragon with adreno 220 doesn't seem to pack any serious graphic punch relative to rivals like OMAP4, Tegra2, Exynos. The 1Ghz dual core OMAP4 beats 1.2Ghz dual core snapdragon even with the same PowerVR 540 GPU in Hummingbird. OMAP5 will have PowerVR 545, which will double the already strong graphic power. Right now OMAP4 is used in LG Optimus 3D (Thrill 4G for AT&T) and RIM's Playbook tablet. I wonder why it's not used more by other manufacturers. If LG makes non-3D slim phone with OMAP4, it will be very strong contender in their android lineup. I hope Motorola, HTC would adapt this excellent TI processor to their new phones as well like Moto did with their Droid lineup last year. So far HTC seems to stick with snapdragon only.

In case of Samsung, it looks like they will start giving improved Hummingbirds to their mid-range phones. Galaxy S2 mini was announced a while ago and it's said to have faster 1.4Ghz hummingbird, 3.7" SLCD screen. They will also put 1.2Ghz hummingbird in AT&T Infuse 4G with 4.5" SAMOLED+ screen. I guess it boasts smaller feature size for better efficiency, not just higher clock speed. I hope the hummingbird in stealth is refreshed one like those. The slow I/O performance of Hummingbird in Galaxy S was originally due to RFS file system combined with MoviNAND memory, but Samsung seems to have addressed it since Nexus S and I hope they continue that in the new phones going forward this year.

 

[SirKronan]

Well, I sure hope the Stealth has a few improvements, such as the type of internal memory and files system. Otherwise I would only be getting it for improved screen, camera, and HDMI out. Those are heavy duty features, but I was still hoping for more. Verizon needs to slim down their LTE stuff. Yeah, it gives SOME users 20mb/s download speeds. GREAT! Who needs that on a 4" screen? I would most certainly rather have "3.5G" 5-6mb/s downloads, but much better battery life and slimmer lighter devices. 3G I have now is fast enough. I would be happy with a doubling of my speed without doubling the weight and thickness of my device and halving the battery life .... Yes I know I'm exaggerating, but you know what I mean. And I bet some of you feel the same way. 5mb/s is enough to stream HD, for crying out loud.

 

[jinwons]

Also note that Infuse 4G on AT&T is coming soon. I didn't pay much attention to it, so I'm not sure exactly when it will be released though. It's like Droid Charge's sibling on AT&T with 4.5" SAMOLED+ and 1.2Ghz Hummingbird. So if this comes out before Droid Charge, it will get us good indication of how SAMOLED+ display looks like and performance of refreshed Hummingbird.

 

[Vehtemas]

Also note that Infuse 4G on AT&T is coming soon. I didn't pay much attention to it, so I'm not sure exactly when it will be released though. It's like Droid Charge's sibling on AT&T with 4.5" SAMOLED+ and 1.2Ghz Hummingbird. So if this comes out before Droid Charge, it will get us good indication of how SAMOLED+ display looks like and performance of refreshed Hummingbird.

4.5" screen?

Isn't it getting kinda ridiculous? 4.3 is almost too big these days...

 

[kyler13]

Don't forget 3rd party vendors, if you're willing to do the two year, that is. I got my last Fascinate for $50. And I purposefully keep my 3rd line for two reasons:
1. Keep my old Wyoming number
2. Upgrade phones more often

I'm on a 2-yr contract and I'm the primary line. My 20 months is up in December, but I'm at the one year mark at the end of next month so I could technically exercise my annual upgrade feature one final time. However, from what I've heard, you can only do annual upgrade directly through Verizon, not with third party retailers.

 

[SirKronan]

I'm on a 2-yr contract and I'm the primary line. My 20 months is up in December, but I'm at the one year mark at the end of next month so I could technically exercise my annual upgrade feature one final time. However, from what I've heard, you can only do annual upgrade directly through Verizon, not with third party retailers.

That's correct, and I believe they charge an extra fee. So if the phone is $200, there will also be $100 (or more?) added on to that for upgrading early. 3rd parties can't do the early upgrade.

 

[gwlaw99]

Also note that Infuse 4G on AT&T is coming soon. I didn't pay much attention to it, so I'm not sure exactly when it will be released though. It's like Droid Charge's sibling on AT&T with 4.5" SAMOLED+ and 1.2Ghz Hummingbird. So if this comes out before Droid Charge, it will get us good indication of how SAMOLED+ display looks like and performance of refreshed Hummingbird.

Hopefully it will be the refreshed Hummingbird as it is only 1ghz

 

[kyler13]

That's correct, and I believe they charge an extra fee. So if the phone is $200, there will also be $100 (or more?) added on to that for upgrading early. 3rd parties can't do the early upgrade.

I'm pretty sure it's like $30 or $40 for the fee.

 

[dm33]

GREAT! Who needs that on a 4" screen? I would most certainly rather have "3.5G" 5-6mb/s downloads, but much better battery life and slimmer lighter devices.

Get an iPhone.
Consumers have voted and they like the bigger screen. The iPhone looks like a postage stamp size screen nowadays. 4-4.3" is the great majority of Android phones sold.
Even Apple is rumored to be trying to cram a bigger screen in the same size phone.

 

[jinwons]

Get an iPhone.
Consumers have voted and they like the bigger screen. The iPhone looks like a postage stamp size screen nowadays. 4-4.3" is the great majority of Android phones sold.
Even Apple is rumored to be trying to cram a bigger screen in the same size phone.

I think he was talking about data speed, not screen size. For screen size, I like 4" best, not too small, not too big.

 

[SirKronan]

Get an iPhone.
Consumers have voted and they like the bigger screen. The iPhone looks like a postage stamp size screen nowadays. 4-4.3" is the great majority of Android phones sold.
Even Apple is rumored to be trying to cram a bigger screen in the same size phone.

Umm, yeah, I don't think you read my post.

 

[SirKronan]

Official now. No longer rumored:

Droid Charge by Samsung