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Samsung didn’t make it a focal point, but they announced the Samsung Galaxy Player 50 which is essentially a portable media player sporting Android. It will mainly serve as an affordable device for music and videos, but the Galaxy Player 50 also sports a 3.2-inch touchscreen, 2MP camera, Wi-Fi, access to Android Market, 8GB or 16GB of memory, andexpandable MicroSD up to 32GB.
The Galaxy Player 50 will cost £149, which is about $230 in USD, and without the need for a mobile contract that’s a pretty decent pricepoint for a multimedia Android device with no strings attached. There aren’t many options like it around, but there is probably a reason for that as Apple dominates the PMP market and most competitors simply admit defeat. I, however, am happy to see Samsung use Android to compete.
We’ll try and get ahold of this from Samsung on the show floor tomorrow!
Is the $230 for the 8gb? That pretty much puts its at exactly the same price as the iPod Touches, seems like you’d be trading a front facing camera for expandable memory. Sounds good, but I’m not sure if they can dent the iPod without being able to undercut the price somewhat.
Why is it called 50 when it’s neither 50 GB or 5″?
Here I thought Google was denying the market to other Android tablets/pmps because they didn’t have 3G. But it seems like Samsung is getting two wifi-only devices with Market access.
A very good thing.. starting to see wifi only android market devices. That was the one thing I didnt like about googles strategy. I hope we see a lot more to come as a mobile network on a tablet is a waste for most of us.
What happened to a personal audio player that was just for music and maybe video, (ie ipod classics, 30gb-160gb) ipod touches and samsung players are just too similiar to phones that the only difference is storage capacity. I am selling my ipod touch and getting a classic with more storage and less features. What happened to people that they actually want ipod touches or samsung players and and a smart phone?
Right… so why is Google willing to let this one use the market where in the past it has not let any device use the market unless it had cellular data?
Not that I’m complaining. But anyone who bought an Augen tablet has to be wondering if these devices might suffer the same fate. Hopefully Samsung is more aboveboard and actually has Google’s permission… but that just makes me wonder why.
@ng2
Why pay to develop your own os when you can use one with the mass appeal of Android? Then its a case of design something well, code a good media player (poweramp has proven it can be done) and you’re done. So long as you have market access, the end user can do what they want with it.
I think lets samsung use the market without the network attachment because of the success Samsung has had with android. They have put android on the map for a lot of people who may have been intimidated by the DROID DOES campaign. The galaxy line of devices (though not my personal choice) is a softer intro into android…esp for Iphone converters. The player should be about 30 bucks cheaper to really snatch ipod touch market share though, but who knows. either way…android ftw!!!!
Will lose to IPod Touch, which sells for about $10 less for 8GB. IF the 8GB model also comes with another 8GB of SD memory, then “maybe” it might sell some units.
Quite honestly, if this doesn’t sell for less than $200 for 8GB, then it will sell about as well as the Tab.
I doubt it’ll be as much as $230. In the UK will always have prices massively increased. I’d guess $190 – $210
this player will probably have crappy audio quality just like the ipods.
“Will lose to IPod Touch, which sells for about $10 less for 8GB. IF the 8GB model also comes with another 8GB of SD memory, then “maybe” it might sell some units. Quite honestly, if this doesn’t sell for less than $200 for 8GB, then it will sell about as well as the Tab.”
The Tab sold over a million units by December
“Right… so why is Google willing to let this one use the market where in the past it has not let any device use the market unless it had cellular data?Not that I’m complaining. But anyone who bought an Augen tablet has to be wondering if these devices might suffer the same fate. Hopefully Samsung is more aboveboard and actually has Google’s permission… but that just makes me wonder why.”
probably because it’s Samsung
I wonder if the samsung media hub will get a subscription like zune. I just ordered a Zune hd 32gb for 180….even though this is android and Poweramp will make this wondeful, Im really not looking forward to downloading a bunch of random albums when i have ease of use like the Zune pass.
At last non American device that succeed world wide. This is what world has been waiting for. Hopefully free of patents and Android market place available to it.
Would anyone care about the iPod Touch if it weren’t for iTunes and ITMS? I guess Samsung is about to find out.
Not completely trying to knock on these types of touch MP3 devices. I am sure these have their places for many folks. But honestly, I have a G2 and figure why spend $200+ bucks when I can drop $35 for a 16GB microsd and do the same thing with double the memory, cellular capability, and no need to tie up two front pockets.
But hey, maybe thats just me.
Casper, you have to realize that not everybody has a smartphone nor do they want one. I’m quite content with my old-fashioned Sony Ericcson flip-phone, but that doesn’t mean I’m technologically illiterate (I’m a computer engineering major for Pete’s sake). I simply cannot afford to tack on an extra $30 to my phone bill every month; after a year I could probably buy two Galaxy Players with the money I’m saving and have some left over! Only when the price of data plans goes down will I consider buying a smartphone. At the same time; I don’t think I need the internet in my back pocket everywhere I go. Again, I’m a computer engineering major so you probably think I’m nuts if you’ve managed to read this far. Rest assured, I’m sane; if you’ve ever worked in a restaurant, you know as well as I do that there are just some things that scar you for life and from then on you always think twice before ordering certain items off the menu. The internet is sorta the same way. It’s a great tool, but I begin to question my freedom when it becomes more than that(big brother just gets closer and closer as time goes by), like anything it can also be a weapon of sorts. I don’t want to carry that burden with me 24/7. Back on topic, Android has become one of the 7 wonders of the mobile computing world; what kind of tech geek would I be if I didn’t want to fool around with it? It certainly doesn’t help that it’s only available on smartphones and a handful of glorified no-name paperweights. The Galaxy Player is a blessing to people who do not want to get into the smartphone craze, and will hopefully give Apple some much needed competition.
its ugly. i like the galaxy s player better. the device thats everything like their phones but with no phone carrier. :) and where is androids new music interface!?
Honestly, I’d rather buy a MicroSD for my phone, with that kind of price. I think people forgot you can also play music and videos.
You can buy a phone with a better camera and a Media Player and Wifi with that price.
This is seriously lame, just get a Galaxy S phone, it’s better. Or hell, get the Epic 4G, it had everything this POS has and more, but I really don’t get why Samsung would make this, it seems pointless. Once again, Samsung tries to copy Apple by copying their marketing strategy
@anonymous
Well not all have plans and in my country it is very cheap. So your scenario does not apply to everyone. Just like Casper and mine’s scenario.
@anonymous,
I have felt the same way. I wouldn’t mind a smart phone but I’m not going to get sucked into a $70 a month contract for one. The ultimate device for me would be one that when I plug it into a charger at home, turns on the internet and starts downloading things I’m interested in, RSS feeds, podcasts and such so that I have it ready when I want to look at it. The internet is more of an on demand vs dvr model.
NG2, why not consider the Cowon X7? It has 162GB of storage and reportedly has great sound quality and is not tied to iTunes. For something smaller in size, the Cowon J3 can give you 64 GB of flash plus microSD storage and has a great AMOLED display.
…. I am by no means an apple fanboy infact I hate them but this is as blatant of a ripoff as you can get. Why would any one even bother to buy this especially considering the fact that android phones have micro sd cards and arent locked down to any itunes account. WTF people just download music on your phone. For anybody who doesnt know any better this device is something known to those of us with common sense as a FAIL
Samsung: “Well, we make fake iPhones, we make fake iPads, so we might as well complete the trifecta and make a fake iPod touch….” this would be funny if it wasn’t so embarrassing…..
guys, guys, dont be so fast! first thay have to comeout at the market! so far Samsung only talk about its G50 and GB1, and noone had seen them yet! so I am up to this player if it features Android (good for Android)) and Wi-Fi module, and GPS, and FM-radio and Android Market,,, just release it!!
It is really getting on my nerves how everyone says why not get a smartphone that has all of those features. Not everyone wants or can afford a monthly contract, that’s why. Some people still have feature phones or even pay as you go phones, but want the same functionality as a smartphone if only with wifi. If it were such a bad idea the iPod touch would not be as popular as it is today. I’ve been waiting for an Android iPod touch competitor, and it looks like Samsung, though I do admit they seem to copy Apple a lot, is going to be the one to do it. One time payment over 2 year contract any day.
Marco, I have never had any of Apple crappy shitty devices! I heard as much bad stuff about them as I heard good, so deciding is kinda difficult wherether this players is good or not! All I know is that this is just a FIRST player running on Android- I am sure this year and next years we will see lots of them! And Galaxy Player can possibly kill iPod Touch in the future!)
folks are forgetting all those linux users who can now put music on a device without needing windows/zune/itunes